Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

    • Environmental Topics
    • Air
    • Bed Bugs
    • Cancer
    • Chemicals, Toxics, and Pesticide
    • Emergency Response
    • Environmental Information by Location
    • Health
    • Land, Waste, and Cleanup
    • Lead
    • Mold
    • Radon
    • Research
    • Science Topics
    • Water Topics
    • A-Z Topic Index
    • Laws & Regulations
    • By Business Sector
    • By Topic
    • Compliance
    • Enforcement
    • Laws and Executive Orders
    • Regulations
    • Report a Violation
    • Environmental Violations
    • Fraud, Waste or Abuse
    • About EPA
    • Our Mission and What We Do
    • Headquarters Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Labs and Research Centers
    • Planning, Budget, and Results
    • Organization Chart
    • EPA History

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. News Releases

EPA orders the closure of cesspool in Kauai to protect water resources

December 16, 2020

Contact Information
Alejandro Diaz (diaz.alejandro@epa.gov)
808-541-2711

For Immediate Release: December 16, 2020
Media Contact: Alejandro Diaz, 808-541-2711, diaz.alejandro@epa.gov

EPA orders the closure of cesspool in Kauai to protect water resources

HONOLULU -- The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken an enforcement action against Smoky Mountain Helicopters, Inc. (dba Maverick Helicopter) to close a large capacity cesspool (LCC) and collect $45,000 in fines. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act EPA banned LCCs, which can pollute water resources, in 2005.

“Island water resources are vulnerable to pollution from large capacity cesspools,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator John Busterud. “EPA will continue our efforts to close the remaining such systems on Kauai.”

 In 2018, EPA inspectors found an LCC associated with Smoky Mountain Helicopters at a leased airport hangar at the Port Allen Airport in Kauai. Smoky Mountain Helicopters operated the cesspool, which serviced the restroom in the airport’s maintenance hangar. Under the EPA compliance order announced today, Smoky Mountain Helicopters has agreed to close the cesspool by no later than April 30, 2021. 

EPA is authorized to issue compliance orders and/or assess penalties to violators of the Safe Drinking Water Act’s LCC regulations. However, to encourage regulated entities to voluntarily discover, promptly disclose, and expeditiously close these pollution-causing systems, EPA provide penalty mitigation and other incentives for companies that self-police, disclose, correct and prevent violations. Information on how to self-disclose potential large-capacity cesspool violations is available at: https://www.epa.gov/compliance/epas-edisclosure.

Since the 2005 federal ban, more than 3,600 of the LCCs in Hawaii have been closed; however, many hundreds remain in operation. These cesspools collect and discharge untreated raw sewage into the ground, where disease-causing pathogens and harmful chemicals can contaminate groundwater, streams, and the ocean. Groundwater provides 95% of all domestic water in Hawaii, where cesspools are used more widely than in any other state.

In 2017, the State of Hawaii passed Act 125, which requires the replacement of all cesspools by 2050. It is estimated that there are approximately 88,000 cesspools in Hawaii. A state income tax credit is available for upgrading qualified cesspools to a septic system or aerobic treatment unit or connecting them to a sewer. The tax credit ends on December 31, 2020.

For more information on the LCC ban and definition of a large-capacity cesspool, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/uic/large-capacity-cesspools.

For more information on cesspools in Hawai’i, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/uic/cesspools-hawaii.

For more information on this agreement, visit the following websites: https://www.epa.gov/uic/proposed-settlement-sdwa-administrative-penalty-smoky-mountain-helicopters-inc-dba-maverick.

Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook and on Twitter

###

Related Links

  • Region 09
  • Read other EPA News Releases about Compliance and Enforcement
  • Read other EPA News Releases about Water
Contact Us about News Releases
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on January 25, 2024
  • Assistance
  • Spanish
  • Arabic
  • Chinese (simplified)
  • Chinese (traditional)
  • French
  • Haitian Creole
  • Korean
  • Portuguese
  • Russian
  • Tagalog
  • Vietnamese
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshot
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Plain Writing
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions
  • Site Feedback

Follow.