May—June 2018 Pacific Southwest Newsletter

A Volcanic Eruption in Hawaii

EPA has been monitoring and analyzing public health threats from the Kilauea volcanic eruption’s gas emissions. EPA’s work is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s response to the eruption on the Big Island of Hawaii. EPA has also collaborated with the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency and the Hawaii State Department of Health to develop an online Toxic Gas Air Monitoring Viewer to provide the public with information about air quality and potential health impacts.

• West Hawaii Today: Air Quality Monitoring Network Expands
• Hawaii Kilauea Eruption, Toxic Gas Air Monitoring Viewer

Mike Stoker Appointed Regional Administrator

Mike Stoker was sworn in on May 29 as Regional Administrator of EPA’s Pacific Southwest office, which implements and enforces federal environmental laws in Arizona, California, Nevada, Hawaii, the Pacific islands, and 148 Tribal Nations. Prior to joining EPA, Mr. Stoker was an attorney specializing in agriculture, labor, land use and environmental law. Mr. Stoker has also served as a member of Santa Barbara County’s Board of Supervisors, chairman of the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board, and California deputy secretary of state.

• About EPA’s Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator

Agencies Complete Northern California Wildfires Cleanup

As part of the federal response to the 2017 northern California wildfires, EPA conducted asbestos removal at burned properties in Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino counties. In Sonoma and Napa Counties, EPA also surveyed and collected household hazardous waste.

• The Press Democrat: Government Cleanup of Wildfire Ruins Completed
• EPA’s Role in Cleaning Up Properties (video)

A Student Takes on Microplastics Pollution

Melanie Quan is the winner of EPA’s Patrick H. Hurd Sustainability Award. She is a freshman at Las Lomas High School in Walnut Creek, Calif., and she was selected from among 1,793 student scientists and engineers competing in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Pittsburgh, Pa. Melanie’s project explored using a remediation technique for removing microplastics from water.

• Walnut Creek Patch: Walnut Creek Student Honored By EPA