HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-06-12 Interagency Vog Task force Minutes
Interagency Task Force on VOG
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
5:00 p.m.
Pahoa Community Center
15 Kauhale Road
Pahoa, Hawaii
Present: Benedict Fuata, Chair
Doug Mayne, State Civil Defense
Faye Hanohano, Representative of the Fourth Representative District
Robert Herkes , Representative of the Fifth Representative District
Brittany Smart, Council 6
Fred Blas, Council 5
Gerald Kosaki, Hawaii Fire Department
Aaron Ueno, Department of Health, District Health Office
Merlyn Harris, Ka’u Hospital
Not Present:
Loretta Fuddy – Department of Health
Gilbert Kahele, Senator of the SecondDistrict
Mary Correa, Department of Education Keaau-Pahoa
Robert Irvine, Hawaii Health System Corp.
Jason Moniz, Department of Agriculture
Eric Kawamoto, Department of Land and Natural Resources
George Applegate, Big Island Visitors Bureau
Salvador Panem, Department of Transportation Highway Division
Others Present:
Newton Inouye, Department of Health
Victor Gustafson, State Civil Defense
Inge Misajon
Benedict Fuata called the meeting to order at 05.12 p.m.
The council conducted a review of the February 29, 2012 minutes and Rep. Hanohano motioned to
accept the minutes which was second by Ms. Smart.
Discussion of the minutes:
Rep. Herkes asked the question of how do we get the minutes and associated information out to
the public? Ms. Mei Hirayama the recorder responded, “We post the minutes on the public information
website as well as, send it to all of the meeting attendees via email to both the committee members and
from the public and anyone who leave address with the recorder.
Rep. Smart asked if anyone got back to Mr. Ron Ebert concerning installing a monitoring station
in the Wood Valley area. Newton Inouye responded that he had notified Oahu DOH, he is not sure if
they got back to Mr. Ron Ebert. He mentioned that he will follow up with DOH Oahu to see if they had
1
contacted Mr. Ron Ebert. Mr. Aaron Ueno DOH stated that the DOH office on Oahu had informed him
that they will be reducing the number of monitoring sites around the island.
Rep. Robert Herkes questioned the Ka’u Gym project citing the need validity of having to meet
hurricane building standards. Mr. Ben Fuata responded that the reason for the building meeting
hurricane standards is so that it is FEMA certified, not subject to hurricanes under structural limitation
meets all the FEMA sheltering criteria. Rep. Herkes stated that he would rather have the gym
earthquake resistant rather than hurricane resistant.
Motion to approve the minutes by Rep. Robert Herkes was second by Ms. Brittany Smart.
Motion passed and approval of February 29, 2012 minutes was granted.
Reports:
Rep. Robert Herkes requested that he would like an up-to-date of report on the Vog to include
the emission source. Mr. Aaron Ueno stated that a recent report indicates that the Kilauea Volcano is
emitting approximately 1,000 tons of SO2 a day, (600 tons from Halema'uma'u crater and 400 tons from
Pu’u O’o vent respectively). He also stated that it down from the month of May which recorded
approximately 2,000 tons of SO2 a day.
Current mapping of the SO2 is already being done by the University of Hawaii who is funded for
modeling the SO2 path to include satellite imaging. Rep. Herkes questioned if the current mapping can
differentiate the emission source of the SO2 from Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV), Halema'uma'u
crater or Pu'u O’o vent. Rep. Smart also asked it the mapping/monitoring could determine the different
particulates emitting out of PGV, Halema'uma'u crater or Pu'u O’o vent? They both suggested that it
would be beneficial to have a central location to refer the public to for this information. Ms. Brittany
Smart further suggested that she would like to see the mapping information show the history of
patterns in order to see changes and wind patterns and its effect on Vog migration. Ms. Merlyn Harris
stated that similar to Pahala and Ka’u, the wind patterns could inform the people in the affected areas,
when the bad hours are for Vog so that they can avoid exposure. Mr. Robert Herkes reiterated that he
would like to see the mapping show the emission source of SO2, whether Halema'uma'u or Pu'u O’o.
Mr. Ueno stated that the Subject Matter Expert Dr. Jim Kauahikaua who may be able to provide
information on the emission source. In response to Mr. Herkes request, Mr. Ben Fuata review the past
Interagency Task Force on Vog dated December 22, 2011, in which Dr. Kauahikaua gave a presentation
on Vog. The bottom-line is that according to his presentation, they already have the mapping of the
Vog, which includes the measurements, track from the source, predictions and daily emission updates.
This information can be obtained at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/hazard/FAQSO2-Vog-Ash/P1.htm#gases
or http://weather.hawaii.edu/vmap/ or http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php
If anyone has any further questions, please contact Hawaii Volcano Observatory (HVO) or go to their
website for more information.
Unfinished Business:
Statements from the Public: No public statement was taken due to only one person showing up
at the meeting and no one from the public registered to provide any statement at the meeting.
2
New Business:
Announcement by Ms. Brittany Smart announced that Dr. Longo will be making a presentation
to Hawaii County Council meeting in Hilo on her results and findings concerning her research on Vog at
Monday, June 18, 2012, at 3:30 p.m. Task force members are invited to attend.
Rep. Robert Herkes stated that he would like to invite Ms. Trish McComber to our next meeting
to speak to the task force members on the affects of Vog on the catchment system. Mr. Ben Fuata will
contact Ms. McComber to arrange this once we confirm the date, time and location of our next meeting.
Schedule next meeting:
Ms. Brittany Smart suggested that the next meeting be held in Hilo at the Hawaii Council
Chambers. Pending the availability of the chambers the date will be confirmed by Ms. Smart’s
administration.
Adjournment:
Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Rep. Faye Hanohano and second by Ms. Brittany
Smart. The meeting was adjourned at 5:47 p.m.
Amended June 29, 2012
3