Report Title:

Vog; Sulfur Dioxide Monitoring

 

Description:

Directs the Department of Defense to develop and implement a program to ensure that an adequate number of monitors to detect sulfur dioxide are strategically placed throughout areas of the state where high incidences of vog, sulfur dioxide, or both occur.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

312

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

relating to hazardous substances.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  In response to the recent increase in emissions from Kilauea's newest vent at Halema‘uma‘u crater, a House Special Committee on Vog Effects (Committee) was created to bring together experts to examine the effects of vog on the people of the State of Hawaii.  The Committee held a series of fact-finding meetings focusing on health and public safety, agriculture, and economic impacts and tourism.  The need to ensure that an effective system was in place to monitor and warn the public of dangerous levels of the sulfur dioxide in vog became apparent through these meetings.

     The purpose of this Act is to direct the department of defense to develop and implement a program to ensure that an adequate number of monitors to detect sulfur dioxide are strategically placed throughout areas of the state where high incidences of vog, sulfur dioxide, or both occur.

     SECTION 2.  The department of defense, in consultation with the department of health and the interagency task force on vog, shall develop and implement a program to ensure that an adequate number of monitors to detect sulfur dioxide are strategically placed throughout areas of the state where high incidences of vog, sulfur dioxide, or both occur.  For the purposes of this Act:

     "High incidences" means situations where the presence of vog, sulfur dioxide, or both, reaches levels that present a danger to health and safety, as determined by the department of defense, in consultation with the department of health and the interagency task force on vog.

     "Vog" means the substance created when sulfur dioxide and other volcanic gases combine and interact chemically in the atmosphere with oxygen, moisture, dust, and sunlight over periods of minutes to days to form a visible haze consisting of gas plus a suspended mixture of tiny liquid and solid particles.

     SECTION 3.  The department of defense shall submit a report on its progress in establishing the sulfur dioxide monitoring program required by this Act, including any proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2010.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.


 

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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