by Kelly Arbor

WAILUKU - While the credentials of those running the co-composting operation are under investigation, members of the Citizens United for Responsible Environmentalism (CURE) also wonder if Recycling Coordinator Hana Steel is qualified for her position.

Del Urbanczyk Sr., one of the owners of Maui Composting Co., is accused by former Maui County Council member Rick Medina of falsifying credentials in order to win a county contract. Urbanczyk said he didn't know what was in the "Request for Qualifications" document prepared by freelance writer Jeff Stark.

"I provided the work for my client based on the information they provided," said Stark. The Maui Composting Co. principals reviewed his work and were aware of what was in it, he said.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is reportedly looking into the county council's allegation of fraud by Urbanczyk Sr.

The decision to grant Maui Composting Co. a contract in 1993 was made by Recycling Coordinator Hana Steel and Solid Waste Chief Dave Wissmar. Elaine Baker, a county engineer assigned to evaluate the three bidders for the sludge recycling contract, had given Maui Composting Co. the lowest rating. Baker was soon transferred from the recycling division.

What are Steel's qualifications?

Questions about the background of Recycling Coordinator Hana Steel have been raised by critics of the sludge composting operations. The Upcountry News has looked into allegations raised by Tony Clow and Blossom Freiteira, who CURE organizers on Maui.

Steel uses the initials Ph.D. after her name. When she began work for the county in 1991, the Maui News reported she has a doctoral degree in Sociology from More University in Lafayette, Calif. and a bachelor's degree in English from San Francisco State. She had worked for one year as a recycling specialist for Honolulu.

More University is an unaccredited school that is registered in the state of California. Their Ph.D. is not recognized by traditional academic institutions.

Steel is paid $39,624 a year. According to personnel services records, the minimum requirements for the recycling coordinator position is "graduation from an accredited college or university with major work in business or public administration, urban planning civil or environmental engineering, public health or a related field. Three years of professional work experience in the development, administration or implementation of recycling, waste recovery, waste reduction or comparable programs or any equivalent combination of training and experience."

Steel admits that More University is not accredited, but says that accreditation is like belonging to a club. More University is a research institute that does not want to be accredited, she said.

While More University is not listed in the Higher Education Directory or the Directory of Post Secondary Institutions, it is listed in the 1988 Bear's Guide to Earning Non-Traditional Degrees, which says it is known for having "the best sex information in the world."

More University offers two Ph.D.s: one in alternate lifestyles and one in sensuality, according to information from the university.

Steel now says her graduate work was in "the study of lifestyles" and her dissertation was on the integration of Indochinese refugess into American society. Calling herself a doctor is not misleading, she maintained.

Mayor Linda Crockett Lingle said that what counts is that Steel has run a "model program" and is recognized by a national organization as a leader in the recycling field. Lingle said she isn't concerned that Hana Steel's Ph.D. is from a non-accredited university.

"The Ph.D. was not relevant," said Lingle. "She was not hired because of her Ph.D."