Posted on: Wednesday, February 20, 2002

EDITORIAL
Grease the wheels on Kapalama cleanup

One would think the threat of toxic lead dust blowing in the wind around the old Kapalama incinerator site in Kalihi would spur the city to get moving on a cleanup without further ado. After all, this cleanup project has been simmering on a back burner for more than two decades.

But as the city worries over how to decontaminate the site — which was promised to Honolulu Community College for a technology training center and early childhood education program — the potential hazards are piling up.

Preschoolers play near the area, and transients sleep there. Excessive lead intake can slow the brain development of young children. Meanwhile, years of rainfall have pushed the metals deeper into the soil.

The state Health Department wants to know how the city plans to remove the dirt safely, and how it plans to prevent hazards such as "fugitive dust emissions impacting nearby residents, students and workers."

Though the task is clearly on Mayor Jeremy Harris and Kalihi Councilman Jon Yoshimura's to-do list, they're not exactly rushing to spend another $6 million to clean up a lot that will be turned over to the state. The upcoming city budget sets aside $2.5 million for the effort, but that money won't be available until July 1. While there's no easy way to get rid of contaminated soil, a decision has to be made one way or another.

The city needs to get going on this cleanup. Dirt piles must be removed and, at the very least, the fence surrounding them must be fixed so that the dust doesn't blow through the gaps. In the meantime, let's test the children in the area for lead levels so we can determine if there is real cause for concern.