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HANKY PANKY AT MAKALAPA |
A recent response to a Uniform Information Practices Act request found that
the Hawaii State Department of Education is withholding information regarding
high levels of PCBs from parents of school children attending the Makalapa
Elementary School in Salt Lake, Honolulu, Hawaii.
This discovery was made by workers from GasCo who were digging to repair a
gas line on the Makalapa campus playground. Initially, the materials from the
excavation were left lying on the surface, potentially directly exposing the children
while they played and also as some of them walked on the pedestrian walkway
located in the area.
We posted information earlier describing the condition of the campus where
we found large amounts of broken glass strewn over the playground, and expressed
our concerns with the threat the presence of the material posed to the
children.
The vice-principal confirms our discovery of glass on the ground, but the
Navy denies it after their discussion. See the following statements and
pictures. You make the call.
Some of the documents show that "former Vice-Principal Carole Ichiyama
shared information on a 'jewel' area between the picnic table and
tree. Students often find pieces of broken glass on the surface. Navy will
visit the area and provide recommendations. May need to place soil cover over
area."
We don't know what this piece of metal is attached to
Documents also show Mr. J. Kotoshirodo, a United States Navy employee,
"visited area on 6/29 and saw only 2 pieces of glass that looked to be
recent debris: typically the glass associated with historic debris at RHS
(Radford High School) field/track was melted/weathered glass. Also, no metal
debris observed. Since chemical data in soil samples show surface material is
safe, Navy recommendation no immediate action needed at this time, pending
further Navy DOE coordination longer-term solution and possible soil/grass
cover." DOH HEER office provided email concurrence on this recommendation.
Because of this inadvertent discovery at the Makalapa site, the State
Health Department issued a letter to the Facilities Development Branch of the
Department of Education advising that "no subsurface/intrusive work should
be done at or near the Athletic Field/Track until an Environmental Hazard
Management Plan (EHMP) has been submitted and approved. The Department of Education
(DOE) is responsible for ensuring that all parties and entities who may perform
work in the area described above be advised of this determination and
instructed not to perform work until the EHMP is completed." We've
learned, because of this order, an ADA-compliant sidewalk cannot be installed.
As of today, no EHMP has been provided to the DOH.
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