A total of nearly $80,000 in penalties was imposed, the largest of which was $25,000, assessed against Hawaiian Electric Light Company in part for exceeding the ammonia emission limit. The violation was self reported.

A group that is seeking to end the burning of sugar cane on Maui delivered petitions with more than 8,700 signatures to the State Department of Health on Tuesday.

A “malicious fire” at an HC&S field in Kahului last year led to the early harvest of sugar cane in the area, and a subsequent air permit violation. “These circumstances led to confusion about the remaining cane in field 716 and resulted in 25 acres of field 716 being burned when HC&S completed the harvest in November 2011, rather than in 2012,” said Volner.

According to Capt. Haake, the Fire Prevention receives about one call per month in regards to people wanting to burn yard waste and trash; but numerous calls per month in regards to people complaining about smoke issues from such fires.

The Hawai‘i State Department of Health, Clean Air Branch has issued Notices of Violations and Orders against eight companies for air permit violations—two of them were from Maui County.

Light and variable winds are to blame for an drop in air quality on New Year’s day.  The air particulates exceeded the federal 24-hour standard at several monitoring locations. The Department of Health’s Clean Air Branch monitored air quality at five stations located at Honolulu, Sand Island, Pearl City, Kapolei, and Kihei on Maui.  Three... Read more »

The Hawai‘i State Department of Health’s (DOH) Clean Air Branch will be monitoring Hawai’i’s air quality during New Year’s and comparing it with national ambient air quality standards. Health officials say the heavy use of fireworks during the annual holiday celebration can significantly increase the amount of particulates in the air, especially on Oahu. The... Read more »

Hawaii’s air quality on New Year’s Eve was better than expected according to a report released by the state Department of Health. The highest concentration of particulate matter was recorded at Pearl City. All other locations monitored including Kihei on Maui recorded levels lower or equal to last year’s New Year’s celebration. The state’s Clean... Read more »