RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Kilauea on the island of Hawaii is one of the most active volcanoes in the world; and

WHEREAS, during eruptions, not only does the volcano produce molten lava, but it also releases gases containing water vapor, sulfur dioxide, and carbon dioxide; and

WHEREAS, once airborne, the gases, particularly the sulfur dioxide, react with other chemicals in the air to form both liquid and solid particulate volcanic smog called "vog"; and

WHEREAS, vog is often irritating to the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs, and it has been shown to increase the occurrences of adolescent allergies, asthma, and respiratory disease on the island of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, unfortunately, the wind carries the vog into populated areas, and the direction of the wind determines which part of the island is affected; and

WHEREAS, when the prevailing northeasterly tradewinds are blowing, vog tends to collect on the Kona side of the island before blowing to sea, and when southerly (Kona) winds are blowing, vog affects the Hilo side of the island and may also impact other islands farther up the chain; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Health is concerned with the impact that volcanic emissions may have on public health and has been actively involved in monitoring the levels of sulfur dioxide gas and particulate in the ambient air at two monitoring stations, one in Kona and the other at Hilo Hospital; and

WHEREAS, the monitoring stations were placed in these locations because the majority of the population lives and works there; and

WHEREAS, however, the vog monitoring in these areas does not help the residents living and working in surrounding communities, especially near the volcano, which is the source of the emissions; and

WHEREAS, further, there is no notification system in place to alert residents during periods of really high levels of vog emissions; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Health Clean Air Branch is actively engaged in developing an SO2 monitoring plan and a vog advisory for applicable areas on the island of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Health Clean Air Branch is reviewing the monitoring aspects of several studies presently being conducted, such as the "UH NIH Hawaii Island Lung Assessment Study" by Dr Elizabeth Tam, M.D., that has been monitoring and collecting data of particulate matter since 2002 for the locations of Hilo, Kau, Keaau, Kohala, North Kona, and South Kona; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Tam has convened a scientific advisory committee comprised of representatives from Harvard School of Public Health, University of Southern California, United States Geological Survey, University of Hawaii School of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, the Hawaii District Health Office, and others, to assist and provide advice on the many aspects of this important health issue; and

WHEREAS, after the information and data have been reviewed and analyzed, the Department of Health Clean Air Branch expects to develop a monitoring plan and prepare a report addressing the approach including the number of stations, locations, quality assurance measures, advisory system, scheduling, material costs, and manpower requirements; and

WHEREAS, a report on the plan and the status of current activities is expected by the end of 2005; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Health is requested to share its findings and a report on the plan with the Big Island community and the Legislature; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report should include the status of the Department of Health's current efforts and any future plans to:

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is requested to report its findings and the status of its activities, together with any recommendations for legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2006; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health.

Report Title:

Vog Monitoring System; Work Group; Island of Hawaii.