State officials, not surprisingly, are quick to point out that blame for the environmental violations that resulted in a $52 million fine falls squarely on the shoulders of the previous administration.

That point was made not so subtly by Transportation Director Rod Haraga:

"Our administration agrees with the EPA that the environmental violations that took place between 1999 and 2002, prior to our coming here, are unacceptable," he said.

That may be so. But it's what happens next that counts.

Regardless of who's to blame, this agreement between the state and the Environmental Protection Agency is an important step for Hawai'i and our environment.

First, the bulk of the fine, some $50 million, will be spent directly on efforts to resolve Clean Water Act violations over the next five years.

Second, there's an important lesson here in being proactive. The state likely could have spent far less — and enjoyed cleaner water— if the actions envisioned under this settlement had been in place all along.

Most of the actions in the settlement make sense and should have been in place long ago.

They include: increased training and street maintenance; heightened inspection programs; upgraded erosion control programs on state highways; and tougher investigation of both public and private sources of runoff.

To a degree, Haraga points out, his office has already been working with the Environmental Protection Agency to make the changes demanded by this lawsuit. That means, fortunately, the state won't have to start from ground zero in making the changes required.

Hawai'i is particularly vulnerable to runoff problems since most of our industrial uses (public and private) are relatively close to the ocean. In addition, our stormwater systems lead directly to streams or the ocean itself.

This nonpoint source pollution has been a recognized headache for years.

If this settlement — expensive as it is — gets the state on the right track in avoiding water pollution, it will be more than worth the cost. And what happens next rests squarely on the shoulders of the current administration.

There is an opportunity now to do things right. The public, the federal government and those concerned about our environment will be watching to ensure that is precisely what happens.