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Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Office

The Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response (HEER) Office is part of the Department of Health (DOH) Environmental Health Administration (EHA) whose mission is to protect human health and the environment. The HEER Office reports directly to the DOH EHA Deputy Director. The HEER Office provides leadership, support, and partnership in preventing, planning for, responding to, and enforcing environmental laws relating to releases or threats of releases of hazardous substances.

What's New

• October 2012

  Draft Updates to Section 7 of our Technical Guidance Manual (TGM): Soil Vapor and Indoor Air Sampling Guidance are available on the TGM Website.

• August 2012 - Community Meeting and Upcoming Cleanup Action of Former Pesticide Mixing Area, Kilauea, Hawaii

  Kilauea Removal Action Community Meeting Notice
  EPA Cleanup of Kilauea PMA Fact Sheet July 2012
  Kilauea Kekaha Landfill Disposal Fact Sheet
  News Release: U.S. EPA, Hawaii Department of Health clean up soil in Kilauea neighborhood

• June 2012 - 1,2,3-Trichloropropane Report

  The Hawaii State Department of Health is making available a report on the human health risks of 1,2,3-Trichloropropane (TCP), a contaminant found in some sources of drinking water in Hawai‘i. The purpose of the report is to review the available data on the potential human health effects of TCP as a drinking water contaminant and evaluate the adequacy of Hawaii’s MCL for TCP.

• June 2012 – Draft RAM Available for Hickam Communities Remedial Action Site

  HDOH is soliciting public comment on its Draft Response Action Memorandum for the Hickam Communities Remedial Action site. Soils at the site contain elevated levels of organochlorine pesticides due to past application of termiticides. HDOH is proposing a remedy to address this hazard that combines engineering controls (soil caps and geotextile marker layers) with institutional controls. The official public comment period on the proposed remedy begins June 11, 2012, and ends July 11, 2012. A fact sheet is available.

  The following supporting documents for the proposed remedy are also available:
  (1) Removal Action Report (RAR) (28MB);
  (2) Remedial Investigation Report (RI) (5MB), RI Report Appendices: A (1MB), B (12MB), C-1 (9MB), C-2 (7MB), C-3 (8MB), C-4 (7MB), C-5 (8MB), D (4MB), & F (1MB);
  (3) Environmental Hazard Evaluation (EHE, RI Report Appendix E) (28MB);
  (4) Remedial Alternatives Analysis (RAA) (3MB);
  (5) Environmental Hazard Management Plan (EHMP) (29MB); and
  (6) Land Use Controls Inventory Document (LUCID) (17MB).

• May 2012 - Hanalei River

  The Hawaii State Department of Health is providing the following information in response to an AP story posted by the Star Advertiser on April 30 (Biologist: Hanalei river, bay should be tested):
  The concentrations of Arsenic, barium, chromium and lead reported by Hanalei River Heritage Foundation are within anticipated, natural background levels for the volcanic soils and related sediments of the Hawaiian Islands. The metals are naturally occurring, are tightly bound within minerals in the soil and are not toxic to humans or wildlife. The terrestrial and aquatic flora and fauna of Kaua‘i have lived with these metals since the island was created millions of years ago. They are similar to levels of metals in soil that would be found anywhere on the islands as well as much of the world, and are not related to manmade pollution. This is well documented in numerous reports over the past several decades, and summarized in the recent draft report “Hawaiian Islands Soil Metal Background Evaluation Report” prepared for the Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Office of the Department of Health. Hanalei River Heritage Foundation incorrectly compared the sediment (mud) data to regulatory standards for drinking water. These are completely unrelated standards and are not applicable to metals in soil or sediment.

  If you need more information or have any questions, please contact the Site Discovery, Assessment & Response Supervisor Fenix Grange at 586-4249.

• May 2012 - The Hawaiian Islands Soil Metal Background Evaluation Report Now Available

  The Hawaiian Islands background metals study has been in progress for several years and incorporates soil sample data from several technical and scientific sources. This report presents an evaluation of naturally occurring background concentrations of metals and related elements in the volcanic soils of the seven main Hawaiian islands (Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Moloka‘i, Lana‘i, Maui, Kaho‘olawe, and Hawai‘i Island). Soil sample data were evaluated using cumulative probability plots, spatial and soil type distribution univariate plots, detailed spatial analysis, elemental association, geochemical analysis and professional judgment to estimate Hawai‘i-specific background concentration ranges. For more information on the report see the Cover Memo. View the full Hawaiian Islands Soil Metal Background Evaluation Report. View the summary table comparing background concentration ranges to HDOH Environmental Action Levels (EAL). Go to the Background Metals in Hawai‘ian Islands Soils page.

• April 2012 - Kilauea, Kauai Pesticide Mixing Area Investigation Final Report Now Available

  
  The HEER Office has completed extensive subsurface soil sampling of the former pesticide mixing and storage operation affecting three properties on Aalona Place in Kilauea on the island of Kauai. The final report is now available for public review. The report findings will be used by US EPA, DOH and the County of Kauai to determine appropriate actions needed to remediate the soils and restore safe use of the properties affected.
  
  Download the Kilauea Site Inspection report to learn more:

  • Short Version-Report Body Only 2.2 Mb
  • Full Version-Body with Attachments, Appendices and Figures 25.3 Mb
  • Kilauea Pestiside Mixing Area News Release

• December 5, 2011 - ADC Kekaha Diesel Generator Public Comment

  HDOH has completed their response to public comment and made the Final Kekaha Emergency Generator Installation Site Remedial Decision and Responsiveness Summary.
  There are a number of attachments to the document, available on the ADC Kekaha Diesel Generator page as separate items for ease of downloading.

• October 2011 – New Fact Sheet and Sampling Guide for Termiticides

  A new Fact Sheet and Sampling Guide for Organochlorine Termiticides at Residential Sites have been posted on the HEER Office Website, Technical Guidance and Fact Sheet page.

  • Past Use of Chlordane, Dieldrin, and other Organochlorine Pesticides for Termite Control in Hawai‘i: Safe Management Practices around Treated Foundations or during Building Demolition
  • A Guide to Soil Testing for Organochlorine (OC) Termiticides at Residential Sites in Hawai‘i
• June 2011 - Hawai‘i Business News Article

  Read how Brownfields and contaminated sites affect development in Hawaii.

• June 2011 - Kilauea Pesticide Mixing Area Investigation

  The HEER Office is continuing investigation of soil contamination from a former pesticide mixing and storage operation affecting two properties on Aalona Place in Kilauea on the island of Kauai. This summer we plan to collect more than 90 samples to further delineate the areas of contamination in preparation for a removal action. Download the following materials to learn more:

  • Arsenic in Soils - Former Kilauea Mill Fact Sheet, March 2011
  • Press Release - DOH Holds Community Meetings to Discuss Soil Contamination Found in Kilauea on Kauai
  • Kilauea Community Meeting - Presentation, March 2011
• May 2011 - Fifth Hawai‘i Brownfields Forum

  Access agenda, presentations and other event information.