As everyone knows, Brewer Environmental Industries had a sulfuric acid spill on Thanksgiving Day. I was notified that day by Helen Mary Wessel, Campbell Industrial Park Coordinator, and advised the Fire Department and the Department of Health had the situation contained. Subsequently, I met with Stephen Knox, President of Brewer Environmental, and Gary Gill of the Department of Health, regarding where we go from here and whether additional legislation or legislative oversight is necessary. My concerns are:

1. Whether existing environmental standards are sufficient to protect the public health and safety?
2. Whether existing enforcement assets and methods are sufficient to enforce those standards?

Steven Knox of Brewer Environmental Industries appears sincerely committed to working with us to prevent anything like this from happening again. He makes no excuses for a drainpipe rusting through and letting acid escape. The media coverage of this incident was, of course, provocative. I understand there was no cloud of toxic gases threatening the community. I also have been advised HFD personnel responding to the discharge were wearing protective equipment only when near the spill. When they were 40 feet upwind or 180 feet south of the trench and leaking tank, they removed their respirators. I mention this so that we can keep this incident in perspective, fairly gather facts, and make intelligent choices.

At the November 17, 1999, Board meeting, John Pennebacker from the Hawaii State Library System told you "[c]ontact had been made with Senate President Norman Miziguchi, House Speaker Calvin Say, and Governor Cayetano who are all willing to obtain and reappropriate the $8.4 million for the project." The next day I spoke to Speaker Say who told me no one from the Library System had spoken to him about reappropriating money for the Kapolei Library.

Attached is a letter I sent to Board of Education member Karen Knudson about the Kapolei Library. Copies have been provided to the other members of the Board of Education.

Last night was the first community meeting to plan the Kalaeloa Regional Park. Over 500 acres are planned to be a regional park with beaches, sports fields, camping facilities, etc. The interesting part of the meeting was that the community had very strong concerns about whether the Parks and Recreation Department can maintain the existing parks, much less new ones. Attached is my letter to Mayor Harris passing these thoughts on to him.

The House of Representatives has a weekly show on `Olelo (Oceanic Channel 54 - Sundays at 7:30 p.m.) to explain the issues facing the State and the Legislature. I participated in taping show Number 11 in the Open House series which is titled "The Fiscal Outlook." This show features four of us from the Finance Committee, including the Chair and Vice Chair, discussing the economy and the State budget.

This show will be broadcast December 19 and 26 at 7:30 p.m. on Oceanic Cable Channel 54 - `Olelo Views - The Public Access Channel.

Long before Mayor Harris took calls from constituents on the radio, Frank Fasi and I had our own show on KWAI, 1080 AM. I am still doing "Voice of the Majority", each Saturday morning from 7 to 8 a.m. We try to discuss national, state, and especially local issues of concern to ordinary people. Please call-in and talk to us at 524-1080.