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Commission approves MOA using earmark; Honolulu Board of Water Supply pledges $600,000 cost share to seal state wells
Summary
The Commission on Water Resource Management approved a memorandum of agreement to apply a federal earmark toward sealing deteriorating wells on state land. The federal grant requires a 20% non‑federal cost share; the Honolulu Board of Water Supply has committed $600,000. Commissioners voted to accept staff's recommendation as amended.
The Commission on Water Resource Management voted to approve a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to use a federal earmark and related non‑federal cost share to seal a set of deteriorating wells on state lands.
Staff told commissioners the earmark requires a 20% cost share that may come from any non‑federal source. Gary Usiga of the Honolulu Board of Water Supply (Water Resources) told the commission that the Board of Water Supply has $600,000 budgeted for the cost share and “is willing to get it sent over…once the MOA is executed.” Staff also said the MOA is intended to satisfy the stated cost‑share requirement.
The commission approved the staff recommendation, as amended, on a roll‑call vote. Suzanne conducted the roll call: Commissioners Ho, Niike, Chair Chang, Springer and Kagawa Buoyami voted aye; the motion passed with five votes.
Commissioners pressed staff on cost uncertainty. Staff said sealing wells is partly investigatory for the agency and that final project costs could vary; if the project does not cost the full $3,000,000 estimated drilling/sealing ceiling, staff would return to the commission to propose other wells to be sealed or to identify adjustments. A public commenter noted a typographical error in the draft MOA recitals (a senator’s name) and asked that spelling be corrected.
Public comment included a statement from Barry (Gary Usiga) emphasizing proximity of the targeted wells to an operating well — Wailele Well 1 — and saying potential leakage or contamination is possible because of that proximity.
The MOA covers sealing work on state lands that staff said were set aside to provide a water supply; staff described the MOA as the mechanism to document and satisfy the non‑federal cost share needed to access the earmarked funds.
The commission moved on to later agenda items after the vote.
