To: Dr. Linda Rosen, Director, Hawaii Department of Health
Teminate HC&S Cane Burning Permit
Hawai'i Dept of Health: Do not renew the HC&S sugarcane burning permit. Smoke causes lung disease and the ash that blankets our homes is toxic.
Why is this important?
According to the DOH-CAB rules, Ash (that is made up of partially burnt plant material), and has very high amounts of "Polycyclic Organic Matter" and is number 186 on their list of hazardous materials. http//health.hawaii.gov/cab-files-2013-05_x-11-60-1.pdf (Page 60.1-237) Under the DOH-CAB hazard rules DOH-CAB can refuse to issue the permit. Please do not approve the HC&S cane burning permit in its present form. Terminate the permit, or alter it so that HC&S avoids dumping cane ash on the tourist towns of Kihei and Paia Maui. http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/hlthef/polycycl.html
In addition to ash problems, the World Health Organization has named smoke including agricultural burning a cause of lung cancer and other diseases.