(BIVN) – Calling it an act of “blatant disrespect of the environmental laws”, the Hawaiʻi Department of Health says Hū Honua Bioenergy caused an unauthorized discharge of industrial wastewater on November 9, and the state’s Clean Water Branch is now pursuing an environmental enforcement action against the Pepeʻekeo facility.

Pepeʻekeo community members acquired video of the alleged discharge as it happened (image from video below). The video was said to have been recorded by contractors hired to work on the site. Those contractors spoke out at a recent public meeting about what they observed. At the meeting, Hū Honua officials acknowledged the incident and said it was under investigation.

This media release was issued by the heath department on Friday: