STAND

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1387

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: S.C.R. No. 135

S.D. 1

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Energy, Environment, and International Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 135 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CONVENING A WORKING GROUP TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CREATING A COMPREHENSIVE VOG EMISSIONS MONITORING SYSTEM FOR THE ISLAND OF HAWAII,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to convene a working group to develop recommendations for creating a comprehensive vog emissions monitoring system for the island of Hawaii.

The Department of Health and one individual submitted testimony in support of the intent of this measure.

According to the Department of Health, several studies are presently being conducted regarding the health impacts from the volcanic emissions on the island of Hawaii. One study in particular, "UH NIH Hawaii Island Lung Assessment Study" being conducted by Dr. Elizabeth Tam, M.D., is of particular interest because it has been collecting monitoring data of particulate matter, SO2, and acid mists since 2002 for Hilo, Kau, Keaau, Kohala, North Kona, and South Kona. Furthermore, Dr. Tam has already convened a scientific advisory committee to assist and provide advice.

The Department of Health Clean Air Branch intends to review and analyze the data from these studies and other available information. It also expects to complete a monitoring plan and a report addressing the approach including the number of stations, locations, quality assurance measures, advisory system, scheduling, material costs, and manpower requirements. According to the Department of Health, a report on the plan and the status of current activities should be available by the end of 2005.

Upon further consideration, your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the provisions regarding the convening of a working group;

(2) Requesting the Department of Health Clean Air Branch to share its findings and any report on the plan with the Big Island community and the Legislature;

(3) Requesting that the report include the status of the Department's current efforts and any future plans to:

(A) Quantify the number of monitoring stations adequate for the entire island of Hawaii;

(B) Identify the locations for each monitoring station on the island of Hawaii;

(D) Determine the system for monitoring at each station; and

(E) Develop a uniform emissions scale to alert residents of vog emissions levels;

(4) Requesting the Department of Health to report its findings and the status of its activities to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2006; and

(5) Changing the entity to receive certified copies of the concurrent resolution to the Director of Health.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Energy, Environment, and International Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 135, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 135, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Energy, Environment, and International Affairs,

____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair		____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair