Kapolei Local Emergency Action Network

K.L.E.A.N. was formed in 1996 to bring together industry, emergency responders, and the community to effectively prepare for emergencies. K.L.E.A.N. is a voluntary, non-government not-for-profit local organization.

K.L.E.A.N. is involved in a number of activities to promote the welfare of CIP and its surroundings. Included among these are: continuing development of the community-based CIP Emergency Resources Guide ; community education programs; training and response efforts to protect employees; support of community organizations and the families they represent; environmental protection; emergency response exercises; and the enhancement of emergency warning systems — just to name a few.

Background

The Kapolei Area, located in the Ewa Plain, is rapidly becoming the second largest urban area on the Island of Oahu. Home to over 70,000 people, the Kapolei Area is developing into a self-contained community with centers of retail, commercial and industrial enterprises, resorts, churches, schools and planned community housing projects.

The Ewa Plain is also home to the largest industrial park in the State of Hawaii, the James Campbell Industrial Park (CIP or “the Park”). CIP is composed of many diversified businesses, which provide a significant portion of the infrastructure for the Island of Oahu and the State. Businesses in CIP provide vital services to the State of Hawaii and its residents, including a wide range of manufacturing, import/export, power generation, construction, and waste management industries. CIP provides 100% of the Hawaii’s oil refining, most of the State’s gas manufacturing (propane and synthetic natural gas), 40% of Oahu’s electrical generation, and many other vital services needed for the everyday lives of people of Hawaii. CIP businesses also provide approximately 4,000 jobs. Many of these individuals live in nearby communities.

Many businesses in CIP depend upon neighboring facilities for fuel, raw materials, waste disposal, and shipping. This inter-dependency reduces transportation costs and the associated environmental risks. The nearby Barbers Point Harbor and Interstate Highway H-1 provide accessibility for commodity flow throughout the Hawaiian Islands and beyond. Underground pipelines provide an additional transportation corridor for refined oil and gas products to Oahu’s major port facilitates in Honolulu.

As with most industrial and commercial operations, hazardous materials, including flammable and toxic liquids and gases, are present as raw materials, by-products, intermediates and finished products. Many of these materials are used throughout Hawaii in the form of fuels, water treatment chemicals, solvents and other industrial and consumer products. The concentration of hazardous chemical in CIP and their proximity to a rapidly growing community provide a compelling need for analysis of the potential vulnerabilities and emergency preparedness that specifically addresses the local area needs.

As a result of a proposal by the area’s State Assembly Representative, a group of concerned businesses, local government officials, and other individuals have formed an organization, known as the Kapolei Local Emergency Action Network (K.L.E.A.N.), to promote emergency preparedness issues, including public safety and health. K.L.E.A.N. is a non-profit organization that is funded by donations from private businesses. Its goals include emergency preparedness, public safety and health, community education and public notification. K.L.E.A.N. is working with representatives from the State Department of Health, the Department of Emergency Management (DEM), the Honolulu Police Department, the Honolulu Fire Department and other government officials to forward their goals of emergency preparedness and public protection. The Emergency Resources Guide is a result of their efforts.