HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-08-02 Interagency Minutes
Interagency Task Force on VOG
Thursday, August 2, 2012
5:00 p.m.
Civil Defense Agency
920 Ululani St.
Hilo, Hawaii
Present: Benedict Fuata, Chair
Faye Hanohano, Representative of the Fourth Representative District
Robert Herkes , Representative of the Fifth Representative District
Brittany Smart, Council 6
Gerald Kosaki, Hawaii Fire Department
Robert Irvine, Hawaii Health System Corp.
Merlyn Harris, Ka’u Hospital
Jason Moniz, Department of Agriculture
James Wheler, Department of Land and Natural Resources
Not Present:
Loretta Fuddy – Department of Health
Doug Mayne, State Civil Defense
Aaron Ueno, Department of Health, District Health Office
Gilbert Kahele, Representative of the Second Senatorial District
George Applegate, Big Island Visitors Bureau
Salvador Panem, Department of Transportation Highway Division
Mary Correa, Department of Education Keaau-Pahoa
Fred Blas, Council 5
Others Present:
Eric Fogel, Volcano citizen
Tom Callis, Hawaii Tribune Herald
Don Thomas, University of Hawaii Center on Active Volcanoes
Benedict Fuata called the meeting to order at 17:05.
Approval of June 12, 2012 minutes.
Motion to accept moved by Robert Herkes and seconded by Britney Smart. Motion to approve minutes
passed.
Reports: None. No new reports out on the vog.
As a request from the board we have Dr. Don Thomas speaking on vog effects on catchment systems.
Results of collaborated work to look at the impact of vog on catchment systems.
Different communities are exposed to different compounds, that effect communities differently.
During dry condition the plume travels over a larger area; with humidity condensation cause droplets to form
through condensation which settles out on grazing land and roof catchment systems. In areas with high rain fall
the soluble acid is washed off the roof. If catchment system water is used for drinking, residents are advised to
first flush system, which diverts initial rainfall into a waste line, water will be a lot cleaner in the catchment
system.
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Conclusion:
Plume is impacting catchment systems. Concentration next to volcano has no serious risk due to rain
fall.
None of catchments show values above drinking water standards
Concentrations over time may cause levels to increase. Catchment water consumption can cause public
health risks
Pluming pipe deterioration
Risk has declined
Matured grass show levels of fluoride above 40 ppm and animals show fluorosis.
CSAV (Center o the Study on Volcanoes) has a website. hilo.hawaii.edu/~nat_haz/vog/
Unfinished Business:
Follow up on Ron Ebert: The monitors at Department of Health went down and it was not reported.
Statements from the Public: No statements from the public.
New Business:
Brittany Smart Dr. Bernedette Longo made a good presentation to County Council. With the information
of the presentation, Ms. Smart is working with Housing to get an increase in CDBG, for RERP (Residential
Emergency Repair Program) a low income program to upgrade homes which would allow installation of air
condition for some of these homes, with a focus in Pahala, grant request.
Robert Herkes would like to recommend through a resolution to legislature we keep the vog task force
in place. We have not had a lot of public testimony. The task force would meet at the recall by the governor.
Isn’t there another state vog task force? This vog task force put together allow public testimony to formulate a
report to the legislature. No place for the public to go to get answers to questions and information. Have we
achieved our purpose? If we continue, will it prolong what will we are tracking? If issues have been addressed
through monitoring and monitoring date is give out to the public would ne need to continue? Ms. Smart, this is
another issue, the monitors are exceeding their life expectancy. And the Department of Health has no money to
replace the monitors. Which may be a recommendation to put forward, monitoring and collection of data is
important and the monitors are dying.
Marilyn Harris there are three lessons learned from the information given at the task force.
1. Learned about health effects and more research
2.Learned about water catchment
3.Learned about agriculture and effects on the environment.
Maybe this should be a recommendation; there should be one place for people to go to get information. It
should be easier for people to get information. Benedict will look into whether we could put information on a
website for the public.
Benedict Fuata, today we did upgrades our mass notification with a cellular mobile access system for
emergency purposes. If there is a disaster we can get a message out using cell towers to notify by district. We
can provide mass messages on time. We have trained police and fire dispatch to put out timely information. Fire
can recall their people. This should be fully operational by August 15, 2012. Next meeting we will have John
Drummond, my Administrative Officer, come in a do a demonstration.
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Schedule next meeting: November, 2012, date and place be determined. Representative Herkes would like the
time to be at 2:00 p.m.
Adjournment:
Motion to adjourn made by Faye Hanohano, seconded by Brittany Smart.
Meeting adjourned at 6:20: p.m.
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