HONOLULU – Attorney General Clare E. Connors, today joined a coalition of nine Attorneys General in filing a brief that argues that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is violating federal law by continuing to allow chlorpyrifos, a widely-used pesticide with well-documented harms to infants and young children’s neurological development, to contaminate common foods. The coalition is suing EPA over its decision to continue to allow chlorpyrifos to be present in foods, even though the Agency has not made a finding – as required by federal law – that this pesticide contamination is safe. In light of the EPA’s failure to address the safety of chlorpyrifos in food – and overwhelming scientific evidence that currently allowable levels are not safe, the coalition is urging the court to direct the EPA ban it from food. Photo credit: Children's Health Defense “The EPA has failed to make the legally necessary safety findings on this dangerous pesticide,” said Attorney General Connors. “The health concerns to consumers, especially infants and young children, cannot be ignored.” Today’s filing is part of a lawsuit led by New York Attorney General Letitia James that was filed on August 7 in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and includes the Attorneys General of California, Washington, Massachusetts, Maryland and Vermont.  The Attorneys General of Oregon, and the District of Columbia subsequently joined the coalition’s suit. Chlorpyrifos – a widely-used pesticide on food crops, including many fruits and vegetables commonly consumed by infants, young children, and pregnant women – is well-documented to harm proper development and functioning of the central nervous system and brain. In fact, EPA’s own scientists have twice been unable to identify a safe level of chlorpyrifos residues on food.  Because of this, in November 2015 and again in November 2016, EPA issued proposed regulations to revoke all allowable levels – known as  “tolerances” – for  chlorpyrifos in food.  Revoking these tolerances would ban the dangerous pesticide from being present in food. However, in one of his first official acts, then-EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt disregarded those proposals – and the weight of scientific evidence amassed by the Agency – and issued an order delaying until 2022 any decision on whether to revoke or modify currently allowable tolerances for chlorpyrifos in food. In June 2017, a coalition of Attorneys General, along with a group of petitioners, filed administrative objections to Administrator Pruitt’s order. The objections argued that by leaving the current chlorpyrifos food tolerances in place, the order violated the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Food Act) because EPA failed to make the legally-required finding of safety required to maintain those tolerances. In April of this year, the Ninth Circuit ordered EPA to rule on the administrative objections within 90 days. EPA issued a decision denying the objections on July 18.  However, in its denial, the Agency still did not make the legally-required finding that the current tolerances for chlorpyrifos in food were safe. Instead, EPA said it would continue on its original timeline, deferring any decision on the pesticide’s safety in food for another three years. In today’s filing, the coalition of Attorneys General argues that EPA’s July 18 decision was arbitrary and capricious, and contrary to federal law. In particular, the coalition contends that EPA violated the Food Act by leaving the current tolerances in place without affirmatively finding that they are safe and by failing to find, to a reasonable degree of medical certainly, that the tolerances will cause no harm to infants and children.  The coalition urges the court to set aside the July 18 order, and direct EPA to revoke all tolerances for chlorpyrifos residues on foods. Chlorpyrifos is one of the most widely used pesticides in the United States on food crops, including those commonly consumed by infants and young children such as apples, strawberries, cherries, pears, peaches, nectarines, and cherries.  Residues of the pesticide have repeatedly been documented in baby foods and juices.  Chlorpyrifos has been subjected to regulatory review for nearly 20 years, and its dangers are well-documented.  The pesticide is part of a group of chemicals that includes nerve gas and acts by inhibiting an enzyme that is key to the proper development and functioning of the central nervous system and brain. Several studies have shown that children born to women exposed to chlorpyrifos during pregnancy had a variety of disorders, including delayed motor development, attention problems, pervasive developmental disorder, attention deficit disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and reduced IQ scores.

Jefferson Chang (left) was one of four USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists who spoke about monitoring Hawaiian volcanoes and mentored students at the 2019 National Diversity in STEM Conference in Honolulu. The Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science organizes these annual meetings to foster underrepresented students in science, technology, engineering and math. HVO colleagues Kevan Kamibayashi and Patricia Nadeau, across from Chang, helped staff the USGS exhibit during the conference. USGS photo by A. Scott. JEFFREY CHANG: About a month ago, I attended the 2019 National Diversity in STEM Conference, an annual meeting organized by the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) and held in Honolulu this year. SACNAS STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) conferences are unique in that they focus on fostering diversity and inclusion. They are attended primarily by students and professionals. As a student, it is an invaluable experience to see examples of and interact with successful professionals that look like you. As a professional, it is an opportunity to mentor future scientists. The conference got me thinking about where I came from, and how I ended up as a geophysicist at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO). I did not have a mentor or example to guide me. I grew up on the windward side of O‘ahu, in a modest family that barely made ends meet. I rode my bike or walked to Waimānalo Intermediate, and later caught 'TheBus' to Kailua High School. I was an average kid. Sometimes, I made good grades; other times, I made poor decisions. My teachers often sent home progress reports that said or hinted at something to the effect of "has potential" or "needs to apply himself." Come to think of it, I probably made more poor decisions than good grades! I finished high school, ranking somewhere in the middle of my class. I had no plans—and no clue. Through a bizarre turn of events, I enrolled at Leeward Community College (LCC) on the other side of the island from where I lived. There, I took an introductory geology class, which, unbeknownst to me at the time, was the first in a series of fortunate events. While taking 18-21 credits per semester at LCC, I worked full-time to pay for housing. I also had a second full-time job to pay for food and expenses. This was the normal hustle for my peers and me. I was just an average adult on O‘ahu. After a few years of working toward a two-year degree, I decided that it was not sustainable. I left Hawaii to find a college on the mainland. I now had a plan—but still no clue. While enrolling in Northern Arizona University, I was caught off-guard when the admissions official asked me to declare a major. As I strained to remember the classes I took in high school and LCC, the word "geology" came out of my mouth. I said it on a whim. It was a topic that I had only known for one fleeting semester. Geology—the study of the earth. That one word impetuously muttered so many years ago set the course for the rest of my life. During my undergraduate, master's, and doctoral studies, I received grants and awards. I conducted and presented my research around the world. I advised policy-makers on state-wide legislations. I also drifted a long way from the little town of Waimānalo . Living in Hawaii and being a scientist had never connected in my head. I had no role model, so the two seemed disconnected. That changed when I met a stranger at the airport after attending an American Geophysical Union conference. "You’re from Honolulu, right?" he asked, which seemed oddly specific. Maybe he noticed my Locals ® slippers. He was an HVO research geophysicist and reminded me that the Island of Hawai‘i has active volcanoes, which generate substantial seismicity. More importantly, he made me realize that there was indeed a place for local scientists in Hawaii. About a year after that chance meeting, I started my career as a USGS-HVO geophysicist, monitoring Hawaiian volcanoes and earthquakes. There is a disturbing lack of diversity in science, so representation matters. SACNAS works to ensure that underrepresented students in STEM get the support they need to succeed. Not all scientists look like Einstein or wear lab coats. Some of us lucky ones get to wear "slippahs." Because of my past experiences, I engage with students whenever possible, which is why I attended the SACNAS STEM conference. My hope is that students never have to choose between pursuing their dream careers and staying close to their roots. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geophysicist Jefferson Chang during his presentation at the 2019 National Diversity in STEM Conference in Honolulu. Chang and Kevan Kamibayashi (left) were two of four HVO scientists who spoke about their work monitoring Hawaiian volcanoes at the SACNAS conference. Volcano Activity Update Kīlauea Volcano is not erupting and its USGS Volcano Alert level remains at NORMAL (https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vhp/about_alerts.html). Updates for Kīlauea are now issued monthly. Kīlauea monitoring data showed no notable changes over the past week. Sulfur dioxide emission rates are low at the summit and below detection limits at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō and the lower East Rift Zone (LERZ). The water lake at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u continues to slowly expand and deepen. Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level remains at ADVISORY. This alert level does not mean that an eruption is imminent or that progression to an eruption is certain. This past week, about 36 small-magnitude earthquakes (all less than M2.0) were detected beneath the upper elevations of Mauna Loa. Deformation measurements show continued summit inflation. Fumarole temperature and gas concentrations on the Southwest Rift Zone remain stable. Mauna Loa updates are issued weekly. For more info on the status of the volcano, please go to: https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna_loa/status.html One earthquake with three or more felt reports occurred in Hawaii this past week: a magnitude-2.7 quake 25 km (16 mi) west of Pepe‘ekeo at 30 km (19 mi) depth on Nov. 23 at 9:41 a.m. HST. HVO continues to closely monitor both Kīlauea and Mauna Loa for any signs of increased activity. November 27, 2019 https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/hvo_volcano_watch.html

Shipyard ‘Ohana, It is with the heaviest heart I write to you tonight. Today we lost two of our shipyard civilians with another seriously injured in a tragic event this afternoon. I know that no words will convey the full measure of sorrow from today’s tragedy. This loss will be felt throughout our shipyard ‘Ohana, greater shipyard & NAVSEA family, submarine force, and the Navy as a whole. For any who have worked alongside those lost today, please reach out to your chain of command and let them know so that we can facilitate time for you to begin to process this tragedy. The details available at this time have been included in our released employee statement previously posted on our shipyard Facebook page. Also, know that Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and Naval Criminal Investigative Services have a full investigation underway. As we learn more details, we will share that information with you. There are resources available to you as you process today’s events. If you are hurting, there is help readily available. You can always reach out through your supervisor or chain of command. Our local DONCEAP representative, Dayle-Ann Lee-Roche, is available for you and can be reached at (808) 471-3789; 24/7 line is 1-844-DONCEAP (366-2327). Family members and personnel that would like chaplain and counseling services can call (808) 285-7447. Looking ahead, we will honor the life and legacy of those lost. Even now, as we mourn the loss of members of our ‘Ohana, please take the opportunity to reconnect with each other and to reinforce and strengthen the bonds with each other. We value each one of you deeply and we are here for you. Source: https://www.facebook.com/PearlHarborNavalShipyard

STATEMENT: I join in solidarity with the people of Hawai‘i as we express our heartbreak over this tragedy and concern for those affected by the shooting. Details are still emerging as security forces at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam investigate. The White House has reached out to offer assistance from federal agencies, and the state is standing by to assist where necessary. --Governor David Ige

HONOLULU –  Gov. David Ige has appointed Jovanie Domingo dela Cruz as executive director of the Office of Community Services (OCS) at the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR). The appointment is effective Dec. 2. Mr. dela Cruz has served at OCS since 2013 as a program specialist, program administrator and most recently as a program and evaluation administrator. Previously, he was a lecturer at the Department of Indo-Pacific Languages and Literatures at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, where he taught beginning Filipino. De La Cruz earned a B.A. in political science, a B.A. in Philippine Language and Literature with a Certificate in Law and Society from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. He fills the position previously held by Denise Iseri-Matsubara, who becomes the executive assistant to the executive director at the Hawai‘i Housing Finance & Development Corporation (HHFDC) on Dec. 2. The appointment of Jovanie dela Cruz is not subject to Senate confirmation.

The Hawai‘i State Department of Education (HIDOE) announced a new initiative to tackle Hawai‘i’s teacher shortage by providing incentives for educators teaching in critical areas. The first phase of this effort is a proposal to implement a pay differential to increase compensation for classroom teachers in areas that have faced the most severe shortages – special education, Hawaiian Language Immersion programs, and hard-to-staff geographic locations. Gov. David Ige offered his support for the proposal at a press conference today, stating, “This is just the first step of many that will be taken by the Board and Department, which I plan to support. Phase I addresses critical areas where students need the most attention and where we have seen the most prolonged periods of vacancies.” HIDOE is seeking approval from the Hawai‘i State Board of Education (BOE) for this proposal at a meeting scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 5. The recommended effective date for the implementation of the pay differential is Jan. 7, 2020. “We must take positive action now to address the growing gap of qualified educators who provide instruction to our students with the highest needs,” said Catherine Payne, BOE Chairwoman. “This is the first of several steps we need to take to support our talented educators. It will take strong policy direction from the Board to shift the Department’s trajectory and we appreciate Governor Ige’s support as we go forward with these efforts.” Under the proposal, classroom teachers in Phase I would receive the following annual differential in addition to their current salary: For example, a beginning 10-month special education classroom teacher with a bachelor’s degree who has completed a state approved teacher education program (SATEP), holds a license from the Hawai‘i Teacher Standards Board, and who currently earns $49,100, would now be eligible to receive an annual $10,000 differential. Additionally, a qualified Hawaiian immersion teacher with five or six years experience and a master’s degree working at a hard-to-staff school on Moloka‘i currently earning $54,619, would be eligible to receive an annual $16,000 differential (Hard-to-staff Tier 4 and Hawaiian Immersion). The Department estimates the special education pay differential would cost $8.45 million in fiscal year (FY) 2020, which ends June 30, based on 1,691 special education teachers who are currently eligible. The hard-to-staff differential is estimated to cost an additional $6 million in FY 2020, based on 2,109 teachers in all tiers of hard-to-staff areas. The Hawaiian immersion differential is expected to cost approximately $216,000 in FY 2020, based on 54 teachers who are currently eligible. Superintendent Dr. Christina Kishimoto said this initiative is critical in addressing the achievement gap, adding, “There is no single solution to the teacher staffing challenges we’re seeing nationwide. The difficulties in recruiting qualified teachers for special education, Hawaiian Language Immersion programs and hard-to-staff areas have created an equity issue for our most vulnerable students. We have listened to the feedback of our educators and it’s time for bold action to unleash the promise and power of public education on behalf of our haumana.” Work is underway on Phase II of this strategic initiative. The Department anticipates introducing a subsequent proposal to the Board in January, which will coincide with the release of the results of the teacher salary study the Department commissioned earlier this year. Corey Rosenlee, president for the Hawai‘i State Teachers Association, said he supports the proposal and expressed his commitment to continuing to partner with the Department: “Today is the first step of a multi-phased plan to ensure that all our keiki, regardless of where they live, what their special needs are or their ethnicity, are taught by highly qualified teachers.” For more information, click here to view the BOE’s Dec. 5 meeting agenda.

HONOLULU – Attorney General Clare E. Connors joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general fighting to support transgender rights in an antidiscrimination lawsuit against the Gloucester County School Board in Virginia. Gavin Grimm, a former student at Gloucester High School, sued the local school board in 2015 — when he was still a student — for discrimination that banned him from using the common male restrooms at his high school. The coalition filed an amicus brief in the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in support of Grimm in the case of Gavin Grimm v. Gloucester County School Board. “The school board’s actions violate both Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution,” said Attorney General Connors. “Our state has a longstanding commitment to protect the rights of the transgender community, and joining this brief reflects this policy.” Grimm not only sued to challenge the Gloucester County School Board’s policy of banning him from using the common male restrooms at his high school, but also the board’s refusal to update his educational records to correspond with his updated birth certificate that reflects his male gender. The federal district court in Virginia ruled in Grimm’s favor in August 2019, finding that the school board’s actions discriminated against Grimm on the basis of his sex in violation of Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The coalition of attorneys general argue, first and foremost, that transgender individuals have the right “to live with dignity, be free from discrimination, and have equal access to education, employment, housing, public accommodations, and other necessities of life.” They go on to argue that policies that prevent transgender individuals from using gender-segregated facilities consistent with their gender identity cause stigma, isolation, and exclusion. Additionally, the brief highlights how policies that allow students and members of the public to use gender-segregated facilities consistent with their gender identity promote safe and inclusive communities, workplaces, and schools, and benefit the people of the states without harming personal privacy or safety interests, or without incurring any substantial costs. Finally, the brief highlights that the school board’s restroom policy preventing transgender people from using common restrooms consistent with their gender identity and its refusal to update Grimm’s school records do nothing to further legitimate governmental interests and only serve to stigmatize transgender persons in violation of the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause. Nearly 1.5 million people in the United States — including approximately 150,000 teenagers — currently identify as transgender. Attorney General Connors joins the attorneys general of New York, Washington, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and the District of Columbia in filing the brief.

(Honolulu) – A new beach improvement and shoreline stabilization project for Waikīkī Beach is complete. The effort between the DLNR Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands (OCCL) and the Waikīkī Beach Special Improvement District demonstrates a successful public-private partnership with the district funding half of the project cost and providing logistical and technical support through the University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant Program. The project consists of a 95-foot-long sandbag stub groin and the transfer of approximately 1000 cubic yards of beach sand from the Diamond Head swim basin of Kuhio Beach. The groin and beach sand serve to stabilize the Diamond Head (Southeast) end of Kuhio Beach park fronting the Duke Kahanamoku statue.  The work is intended to fix an erosion hot spot in the far eastern corner of Royal Hawaiian Beach until a more comprehensive master planning effort for Waikīkī Beach can be completed. “This project demonstrates the successful outcome of public-private partnerships and is an important component of a longer-term vision for comprehensive beach management and maintenance in Waikīkī,” said Sam Lemmo, OCCL Administrator. “The Waikīkī Beach Special Improvement District is proud to be a partner in this important beach management effort, but also pleased to see the commencement of the first new beach improvement construction project in Waikīkī in a generation,” said Rick Egged, President of the special improvement district. One half of the $700,000 state project was funded by a special tax assessment from Waikīkī commercial properties. The UH Sea Grant College Program will have continued involvement with weekly project monitoring, evaluation, and monthly technical assessments to evaluate the performance of the groin and beach restoration.  The City and County of Honolulu is also a project partner since the work falls within the boundary of Kuhio Beach Park. The C&C is providing access and staff support. The project was completed on Tuesday after three weeks of construction. The project consultant and engineering designer was Sea Engineering Inc. and the contractor was JS International, Inc. RESOURCES For project webpage and construction photos: https://www.wbsida.org/kuhio-beach-sandbag-groin

HONOLULU — The monthly test of the all-hazard Statewide Outdoor Warning Siren System, coordinated with the test of the Live Audio Broadcast segment of the Emergency Alert System, is scheduled for Monday, December 2, 2019 at 11:45 a.m. During this monthly test, all Statewide Outdoor Warning Sirens will sound a one-minute Attention Alert Signal (Steady Tone). A simultaneous test of the Live Audio Broadcast segment of the Emergency Alert System is conducted with the monthly siren sounding, in cooperation with Hawai'i’s broadcast industry. There will be no exercise or drill accompanying the test. The all-hazard Outdoor Siren Warning System for Public Safety is one part of Hawai'i’s Statewide Alert & Warning System used to notify the public during emergencies. If you hear this siren tone in circumstances other than a test, follow emergency information and instructions provided by official government channels. This may be in the form of a local radio, television station broadcast, and/or cellular Wireless Emergency Alert. Wireless Emergency Alert delivers sound-and-text warnings to compatible mobile cellular phones. The Emergency Alert System & Wireless Emergency Alert’s notifications are managed by FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, the nation’s alert and warning infrastructure. Oahu residents in areas surrounding Campbell Industrial Park may also hear a “whooping” tone following the siren test. These areas include portions of Kalaeloa, Makakilo, Nanakuli, Kapolei, and Ewa Beach. The “whooping” tone is a test of the Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) siren warning group that will be activated in the event of an actual HAZMAT incident requiring emergency notification of businesses, schools and residents within the vicinity of Campbell Industrial Park. Contact the City and County of Honolulu Department of Emergency Management at (808) 723-8960 for more information on the HAZMAT warning group siren test. Emergency management and disaster preparedness information is located at the front section of telephone directories in all counties. The public may contact emergency management and county civil defense agencies to report siren operation issues: City and County of Honolulu (808) 723-8960 Maui County (808) 270-7285 Kaua'i County (808) 241-1800 Hawai'i County (808) 935-0031

HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige and first lady Dawn Amano-Ige, together with the Washington Place Foundation, are inviting the public to a special Christmas Open House from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, December 20, 2019. Christmas trees and holiday decorations will be on view throughout Washington Place, and walk-through docent tours will be offered. Guests may enjoy the galleries and exhibits featuring the life of the Queen, the Dominis family, the home’s history, and the lives of the governors in residence. The Priory Chamber Choir from St. Andrew’s Schools, directed by Bowe Souza, will perform a musical program from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Reservations are required for this event and can be made through eventbright only. All adult guests may be required to present a picture ID upon entrance to the property and may be subjected to a bag inspection. No large bags will be permitted. Free parking (on a first come first serve basis) will be available at the State Department of Health (Kinaʻu Hale Building) parking lot by entering off Miller Street. Click here and here for photos from past Christmas events at Washington Place.

HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) Airports Division notifies the public it is replacing the existing PVC height clearance pipes with new steel bars at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL). The bars are being replaced to help prevent damage to personal vehicles and airport property. The clearance pipes alert a driver if their vehicle is too tall to enter the structure, however drivers either did not notice or disregarded the height clearance warnings when entering. The new steel bars will prevent over height vehicles from entering the facility and may cause severe damage if it comes in contact with the vehicle. Motorists should take precautions and know their vehicle height before attempting to enter the airport property. The clearance heights will remain the same and are listed below: Terminal 2 Parking Structure: 6 feet 2 inches Terminal 1 Parking Structure: 7 feet International Parking Structure: 8 feet Roadway clearance: 13 feet The installation of the new height clearance bars will be conducted nightly beginning Monday, Dec. 2 through Friday, Dec. 20, 2019 from 8:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. Some entrances may not be accessible during construction. Temporary lane closures and traffic control measures will also be necessary to replace the bars over the ground level and second floor roadways. To view pictures associated with this announcement, including a damaged sign caused by an over height vehicle click here.

HONOLULU – Acting Gov. Josh Green today issued an 11th supplementary emergency proclamation, extending the emergency relief period for last year’s Kaua‘i floods. The proclamation extends authority to spend state funds as appropriated to protect the health, safety and welfare of Kaua‘i residents and visitors. The proclamation supports the state’s efforts to provide quick and efficient relief of suffering, damage and losses caused by the flooding. Gov. Ige signed the initial emergency proclamation for the Kaua‘i floods on April 15, 2018, followed by: Supplementary proclamation issued April 18, 2018 Second supplementary proclamation issued June 17, 2018 Third supplementary proclamation issued by Acting Gov. Douglas S. Chin on Aug. 16, 2018 Fourth supplementary proclamation issued Oct. 15, 2018 Fifth supplementary proclamation issued Dec. 14, 2018 Sixth supplementary proclamation issued Feb. 12, 2019 Seventh supplementary proclamation issued April 12, 2019 Eighth supplementary proclamation issued June 7, 2019 Ninth supplementary proclamation issued Aug. 6, 2019 Tenth supplementary proclamation issued Oct. 2, 2019 The 11th supplementary proclamation continues until Jan. 29, 2020, unless it is terminated by a separate proclamation. The governor is traveling on personal leave. Lt. Gov. Josh Green is serving as acting governor until Gov. Ige’s return on Nov. 30.