Extra Space Management Inc. and Kaloko Storage (18) HI LLC have been fined for operating an illegal, large-capacity cesspool at an Extra Space Storage facility in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. The companies agreed to pay the $130,000 penalty in a settlement this week with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), according to sources.

EPA representatives inspected the facility at 73-4864 Kanalani St. in July 2021, then sent a request to the owners in September 2021? about the company’s method of wastewater disposal at the site. It was determined an illegal large-capacity cesspool was in operation. It was backfilled in December 2021?, a source reported.

The EPA banned large-capacity cesspools in 2005 under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The agency can issue compliance orders and assess penalties to violators.

“Illegal, large-capacity cesspools pose major threats to groundwater and precious coastal resources across Hawai‘i,” Martha Guzzman, EPA pacific southwest regional administrator, said in a press release. “EPA is committed to using our enforcement authority to ensure that all such unlawful cesspools are permanently closed to protect the public health of residents and their vital water resources.”

Extra Space Management Inc. is a division of Extra Space Storage Inc., a self-storage real estate investment trust. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, the company owns or operates 2,388 self-storage properties in 41 states and Washington, D.C.

Sources:
Big Island Now, Big Island Storage Facility to Pay $130,000 Penalty to EPA for Illegal Cesspool
Environmental Protection Agency, Public Notice: Extra Space Management Inc. and Kaloko Storage (18) HI LLC; Proposed Settlement of SDWA Penalty