Photo By Petty Officer 3rd Class Tori Barrett | Terry Corpus is with the Department of Health and has been working for the people of...... read more read more
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We invite you back to our #PacificParadise response series #AsktheExperts, introducing you some of the folks who are making this effort happen.
Our next expert is a little closer to home for folks here on Oahu.
Terry Corpus is with the Department of Health and has been working for the people of Hawaii for over two decades.
Background: State On-Scene Coordinator and environmental health specialist with a degree in chemistry and more than 25 years with DOH.
Q. What is your role in the response?
A. My role is representing the State interest in the Unified Command.
Q. What recommendations does DOH have for the public in the Kaimana Beach area?
A. While there is no active release of petroleum from the vessel, DOH advises the public to stay outside of the safety zone established for the vessel. Water quality testing since Oct. 16 has shown no petroleum contamination at Kaimana Beach.
Q. Once removed will DOH continue water quality testing in the area? If so, for how long?
A. Water quality testing by DOH will continue weekly until the vessel is removed.
Q. What do you look for in water samples to determine quality?
A. The parameters analyzed for are semi-volatile organics utilizing GC/MS which includes petroleum hydrocarbons. The vessel is known to have lube oil, diesel fuel and hydraulic oil aboard. The analytical procedure used can detect all of these products and more.
Q. What has been your biggest challenge in this response?
A. There were many challenges in this response. It's hard to say which is the most challenging. The top two besides simply getting the wreck removed were getting the responsible party's insurance companies working together and second keeping the public away from the site as it poses an attractive nuisance. We are fortunate that no one has been injured during the whole event thus far. We also thank the public for their cooperation.
| Date Taken: | 11.24.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 11.24.2017 19:09 |
| Story ID: | 256434 |
| Location: | HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 104 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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