Lahaina mill residues scant
By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau
A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency investigation of the closed Pioneer Mill factory site in Lahaina turned up far less contamination than other such facilities in Hawai'i.
However, arsenic and lead found in isolated areas of the former sugar mill were at a level likely warrant removal of some contaminated soil.
EPA officials will discuss their findings Tuesday. The briefing will be from 7 to 9 p.m. in Lahaina Civic Center's Lee Social Hall.
The EPA assessment is part of an ongoing program to test former sugar mill operations across the state. The sugar operations at Pioneer Mill closed in 1999. Both the EPA and the state Department of Health are involved in the assessment program, but the EPA took the predominant role this time because residents near the mill expressed concerns about potential exposure.
In February, the EPA and its contractor collected approximately 50 soil samples throughout the Pioneer Mill site, targeting areas where the ground appeared stained or contaminated, according to a report on the assessment.
Melody Calisay of the state's Hazard Evaluation Office said she and her federal counterparts were pleased by what was not found.
After looking at results of tests at other former sugar operations, officials were mainly concerned with the potential for significant levels of chlorinated herbicides and pesticides that might contain the highly toxic byproduct known as dioxin, she said.
But only "very low" levels of these contaminants were found in the samplings at Pioneer Mill, according to the report, and none of the chemicals were found beyond the site. What's more, officials found only negligible amounts of most of the other chemicals associated with sugar operations.
Only one area contained an elevated level of arsenic, at 104 parts per million. (Background levels were recorded at 3 parts per million.) Arsenic was used by the sugar industry as a herbicide in the 1960s, Calisay said.
There was also one area where two samples registered significant levels of lead, with the highest level at 1,420 parts per million. (Background levels are at approximately at 57 parts per million.)
These areas, which are not next to any homes, will be evaluated further to determine the scope of the problem, with the soils likely to be removed, the report said.
In the interim, the EPA is recommending that plastic sheeting be placed over the contaminated ground and on nearby fencing to prevent soil from blowing offsite.
In addition, the agency is recommending that further sampling for herbicides and pesticides be conducted in the mill's mixing and loading area.
The state will handle further evaluations and cleaning of the site, Calisay said.
Reach Timothy Hurley at 808-244-4880, or by e-mail at thurley@honoluluadvertiser.com.
