September 23, 1999

 




The Honorable Gary Gill
Deputy Director/Environmental Health Administration
Hawaii Department of Health
P.O. Box 3378
Honolulu, Hawaii 96801

Dear Mr. Gill,

This letter concerns the situation in Village Park and Royal Kunia. After last weeks public meeting hosted by Tam & Stanford, it seemed appropriate for me to consult with you regarding our future actions.

The health survey results presented by Dr. Dahlgren appear to confirm that there is an abnormally high incidence of health problems in Village Park.

Does the Department of Health agree or disagree with this conclusion?

What further studies or investigations are appropriate at this point to confirm or refute Dr. Dahlgren's conclusions?

What would be the cost of these investigations and will DOH submit a budget item for this purpose?

 I understand DOH has been conducting a telephone survey of Oahu communities regarding health issues. What was the purpose of this survey, what communities were targeted, and what are the results?

I further understand DOH is consulting with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Is ATSDR going to undertake health monitoring of Village Park residents?

I have heard that the Board of Water Supply will be initiating suit against various parties for damages caused by the Kunia Camp spill. Has DOH considered whether the state should undertake a similar suit? The costs of water, air and soil tests, as well as health monitoring expenses, would be appropriate damage items.

Our goal as public servants must be to either assure the residents of Village Park that there is no problem, or inform them of the scope of the problem and what we are doing to correct it. At this point I can do neither.

From what I have heard so far, Village Park may well have a health problem caused by pesticides and other chemicals. I strongly suspect Royal Kunia has been similarly impacted, and recommend Village Park and Royal Kunia be treated as one community for the purpose of studies, investigations, and remediation. Similar problems may exist in Kapolei, Makakilo, Mililani, etc.

Please contact me at 586-8500 or 586-8504 (fax).

Sincerely,
 
 

Mark Moses
Representative
42nd District

Copy:    Life of the Land
             Citizens for a Safe Environment