Project Name: Hawaii Environmental Risk Ranking (HERR)

summary from the Setting Priorities section of Scorecard
Ranking Results:


Project Description:


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Ranking Results

Risks to Public Health from Environmental PollutionOnline Info About this Issue
Higher
Indoor air pollutants; environmental tobacco smoke and carcinogens in consumer productsgeneral    
Pesticide residues and metals in some fish eaten for subsistencegeneral    
Higher-Medium
Lead - to children from multiple sourcesgeneral    
Medium
Benzene (carcinogen) - commuters, gasoline refuelinggeneral    
Carbon monoxide in poorly ventilated automobile congested areasgeneral    
Skin cancer from ultraviolet radiation, especially to children   
Lower
Accidental releases of toxicsgeneral   area specific  
Criteria air pollutantsgeneral   area specific  
Drinking water (pesticides)general   area specific  
H2S from geothermal development  area specific  
Industrial wastewater discharges  area specific  
Municipal wastewater treatment and deep ocean outfall discharge   
Nonpoint source discharges to watergeneral   area specific  
Outdoor air pollutiongeneral    
Toxic air pollutants (refineries, power plants)general   area specific  
Toxic and hazardous material and wastes   

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Risks to Ecosystems from Environmental PollutionOnline Info About this Issue
Higher
Alien speciesgeneral    
Human crowding/overfishinggeneral    
Nonpoint source pollution: nutrients/biochemical oxygen demandgeneral    
Nonpoint source pollution: soil erosion/sedimentationgeneral    
Nonpoint source pollution: toxic chemicalsgeneral    
Vegetation and soil removal   
Lower
Explosives   
Fire   
Global climate changegeneral   area specific  
Heat   
Noise/Lightgeneral    
Water diversiongeneral    

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Project Description

Geographical Coverage: State of Hawaii

Project Purpose: The purpose of this Hawaii Environmental Risk Ranking study is to provide scientific information concerning the comparative risks arising from environmental pollution and degradation in Hawaii.

Ranking Process: The Hawaii Environmental Risk Ranking consisted of three phases:

Phase 1 - Rank residual risks to human health and to the ecosystem, explore potential economic impacts, and delineate relevant quality of life issues
Phase 2 - Hold community meetings to gain input from Hawaii's residents as to their environmental priorities and to provide information on the results of Phase 1
Phase 3 - Develop a strategic plan, using the results from Phase 1 and Phase 2, to prioritize the State's allocation of human and financial resources for environmental programs

The ranking took place during Phase 1. Both of the rankings (Risks to Public Health and Risks to Ecosystems) were based on quantitative scoring systems, relying primarily on scientific risk assessment methodologies and secondarily on expert technical estimations.

Project Participants: Governmental Agencies
Private Sector/Industry
Scientific/Academic Community

Representatives from the all of the above stakeholders groups were involved at some point during the public health and ecosystem components of Phase 1. The General Public were not significantly involved until Phase 2.

Reference: Hawaii Environmental Risk Ranking Study. Environmental Risk to Hawaii's Public Health and Ecosystems. East-West Center. September 1992.

Hawaii Environmental Risk Ranking Project Community Action Team. Phase 2 Final Report: Public Outreach Results. Environmental Planning Office, Hawaii State Department of Health. October 1994.
http://www.epa.gov/opperspd/futures/nogopher/risk/crexamples/examples/Hawaii/index.html

Contact Information: Patrick Felling
Environmental Planning Office
Hawaii State Department of Health
919 Ala Moana Blvd., 3rd Floor
Honolulu, HI 96814
phone: (808)586-4337
fax: (808)586-4370
http://www.state.hi.us/health/