The Honorable Carol M. Browner
Administrator
Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20460
Dear Ms. Browner,
I represent several communities on the island of Oahu, including Village Park, Kunia and Royal Kunia. Over the past several years, numerous residents in the Village Park/Royal Kunia area have pointed out the high incidence of birth defects and learning disorders among their children. These communities are on former agricultural land and are adjacent to the Oahu Sugar superfund site at Kunia. Many people have reported soil from Kunia being used during construction in Village Park, as well as water possibly contaminated with pesticides being used for dust control.
Ground water in this area is contaminated with various pesticides such as DBCP, DBP, TCP, etc., and is filtered through granulated activated carbon before being used as drinking water. However, for many years residents drank water from the Kunia well before the contamination was discovered, and before filters were installed.
Many people in the community are absolutely convinced that the Kunia superfund site has contaminated their property and affected their health. These people are similarly convinced that government, other than the local board of water supply, is not taking sufficient action to determine the scope of this contamination and remediate the health impacts. The Hawaii Legislature did appropriate $220,000 this year for limited soil testing in Village Park and West Loch Fairways.
I request the Environmental Protection Agency extend the boundaries
of the Kunia (Oahu sugar) superfund site to include the residential communities
of Village Park and Royal Kunia. These communities need extensive soil
and water testing, remediation, and medical monitoring. We need your help
to identify why our children are being harmed.
Village Park, Oahu, Hawaii (cont'd)
Attached for your information are several recent letters about this situation. Please contact me at 808-586-8500 or 808-596-8504 (fax) if you need further information.
Sincerely,
Mark Moses
Representative
42nd District