HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-09-29 Interagency Vog Task Force Minutes
Interagency Task Force on VOG
September 29, 2011
9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Hilo, Hawaii
Members in Attendance
Quince Mento
Edward Teixeira
Faye Hanohano
Robert N. Herkes
Gilbert Kahele
Fred Blas
Brittany Smart
Darren J. Rosario
Mary, Correa
Diana Van De Carr
Jason Moniz
Eric Kawamoto
Aaron Ueno
Nona Wilson
George Applegate
Salvador Panem
Newton Inouye, Department of Health
Theodore Miller, Department of Transportation Highway Division
Quince Mento called the meeting to order at 9:03 a.m. on Thursday September 29, 2011.
Object of the interagency task force in conjunction with the state interagency task force on sulfur
dioxide hazards is to present a report to the legislature twenty days prior to the regular legislative
session 2013.
Introductions and poll what members feel is the objective of task force and what they know.
Edward Teixeira, State Civil Defense State’s course of action was to develop an interagency task force on
sulfur dioxide hazards to address problems with health issues, in schools and with agriculture and more,
which was an all encompassing group while this group is more of a grass root group.
Robert N. Herkes, Representative Fifth District this should be a sounding board where the public can go
to for concerns about vog. He has two scenarios 1. Site location where community can come in to get
answers. And where the task force goes out to the community and has meetings with various groups
and in various locations. 2. Issues based. Representative Herkes prefers a site based group.
Brittany Smart, Councilmember District 6, she hears concerns are health and safety, where to go to,
when to evacuate, at what level. There should be one location to get information on vog.
1
Mary Correa, Superintendent, Department of Education in 2008 the lesson was what to do during an
event. They came up with an agreement on what triggers actions at what level, training and gas badges.
Department of Education now has knock boxes for fire department to access certain rooms in schools in
case of an event. Vog has been a learning process since March 2008 and they continue to learn.
Jason Moniz, Board of Agriculture, young animals have shown abnormalities from fluoride absorption in
their teeth. In 2009 there were less abnormalities but metabolic problems in the cows giving birth.
Fluoride affects not only the teeth but the bones.
Aaron Ueno, District Heath Officer for Hawaii District, in March 2008 department mission was to
develop a color code system. They needed to gather as much information available at that time, as there
was no such thing as a color code. There are websites with information.
Nona Wilson, Ka’u Hospital, this has been a learning experience, what levels and what colors mean,
often times levels are higher inside the hospital and in different areas of the hospital than outside. The
hospital has a safe room with filters, procedures in place and air conditioning units provided by
Healthcare Association of Hawaii. Vog Mitigation is on tap to provide a safer environment for staff and
residents hopefully by next year.
George Applegate, Big Island Visitors Bureau, the vog is a hazard to the tourists and visitors. Main
concern is tourism and how the vog affect tourists. The volcano is a world heritage site. We need to
change the perception for visitors coming to Hilo. The vog is a negative.
Darren J. Rosario, Fire Chief, Hawai’i Fire Department the focus has been the set up of the Area RAE
system. The Area RAE is not developed to be a fixed monitoring station. Fire supports monitoring and
keeping the community alerted. The alarms go off the truck goes out and by the time the truck gets
there the level has dropped.
Salvador Panem, Department of Transportation State Highways Division, he is unsure why Highways is
here. They have had a call from the University of Hawaii about monitor’s device facility in Ka’u.
Fred Blas, Councilperson District 5, task force should come out to educate the community, especially the
new residents coming in.
Diana Van De Carr, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation East Hawaii board, she would like to see more
information disseminated to the public health on the hazard.
Eric Kawamoto, Board of Land and Natural Resources they are aware of the effects of vog in Ka’u and
Puna and it is a concern. They will support the task force and are glad to be a part of the task force.
Gilbert Kahele, Senator Second District, concern of the Governor is this redundant and money to
convene this task force. He is here to learn and gather information. He is concerned that Police is not
here. What is the plan, who makes the call to evacuate? Is there a plan on evacuation? Where are we
now?
Faye Hanohano, Representative Fourth District, she is concerned there in only one way in and one way
out on the Puna Makai access. There is not much impact unless there are strong Kona winds.
2
Quince Mento, Civil Defense Administrator, vog is a complex acute hazard. His opinion there should be
shelter in place.
What does the task force want to do?
1.Get public involved - Sounding board for vog issues. They can hear concerns and pass it up.
They can get the information and call the party back. They can be a place to ask questions.
2.Provide information - They have no technical expertise to provide information
Group should meet back one more time, December 22, 2011 to strategize and decide who we are, what
are we doing, before we meet with the public.
Meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m.
3