Bill Text: HI HCR41 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Urging Members Of Hawaii's Congressional Delegation To Call For Comprehensive, Independent Testing And Monitoring To Determine The Extent Of Radioactive Contamination At The Pohakuloa Training Area.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 17-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-02-15 - Referred to HLT/VMI, WAL, referral sheet 20 [HCR41 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2017-HCR41-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

41

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

URGING MEMBERS OF HAWAII'S congressional delegation to call for comprehensive, independent testing and monitoring to determine the extent of radiOactive contamination at the pohakuloa training AREA.

 

 


     WHEREAS, after years of repeatedly denying the use of depleted uranium in Hawaii, it has been confirmed that the United States Army used depleted uranium at the Pohakuloa Training Area on the Island of Hawaii, Schofield Barracks on the Island of Oahu, and possibly other sites in the State; and

 

     WHEREAS, the documented use of M101 spotting rounds, which were used in conjunction with the Davy Crockett recoilless guns for training purposes, contained depleted uranium, resulting in the presence of radioactive contamination at the Pohakuloa Training Area; and

 

     WHEREAS, the full extent of radioactive contamination at the Pohakuloa Training Area is unknown because less than one percent of the 133,000 acre installation has been tested; and

 

     WHEREAS, depleted uranium emits radioactive particles that can cause cancer, cell mutations, birth defects, and other possible health problems when inhaled or ingested; and

 

     WHEREAS, on July 2, 2008, the Hawaii County Council adopted Resolution No. 639-08, by a vote of eight to one, urging the United States military to order a complete halt to all bombings, live firing exercises, and other activities at the Pohakuloa Training Area that create dust, until there is an assessment and cleanup of the depleted uranium; and

 

     WHEREAS, although the depleted uranium has not been cleaned up, live firing exercises continue to be conducted at the Pohakuloa Training Center that, along with strong winds and heavy rains, may cause the spread of radioactive contamination at the installation and in surrounding areas; and

 

     WHEREAS, Resolution No. 639-08 also urged the United States military to establish a citizen monitoring system to work closely with military experts to ensure transparency and community confidence; and

 

     WHEREAS, on August 13, 2008, the Hawaii County Council adopted Resolution No. 701-08, by unanimous vote, designating Dr. Lorrin Pang as a member of the citizens advisory monitoring committee upon the establishment of a citizen monitoring system; and

 

     WHEREAS, the United States military has failed to establish a citizen monitoring system to work closely with military experts to ensure transparency and community confidence; and

 

     WHEREAS, independent action is needed to address the potential hazards of radioactive contamination to troops, who train at Pohakuloa Training Center, and to Hawaii residents and visitors; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2017, the Senate concurring, that members of Hawaii's

Congressional delegation are urged to call for comprehensive, independent testing and monitoring, to be conducted with civilian oversight, to determine the extent of radioactive contamination at the Pohakuloa Training Area; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that members of Hawaii's Congressional delegation are requested to seek federal funds to support this testing and monitoring effort; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States; the Commander, United States Pacific Command; the Commander, United States Army Garrison-Hawaii; the members of the United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and the United States House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense; members of Hawaii's Congressional delegation; and the Governor.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Pohakuloa Training Area; testing of radioactive contamination

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