Soiltac: What are They Spraying on Maui?
Soiltac: What are They Spraying on Maui?
Adhesive soil stabilizer, undiscovered remains, and environmental concerns
“For at least two thousand years, native Hawaiians have placed the earthly remains and spirits of their ‘kupuna,’ or ancestors, within the landscapes of Hawai‘i.
When a departing kupuna was laid to rest there was never a doubt that their remains would empower their descendants until they themselves were reduced to earth. Some kupuna were covered by stacked stones while others were buried with no surface markers at all, frequently in sand dunes.
Remains of high chiefs or those kupuna of high honor often were interred at night to conceal their location from jealous rivals who might steal and degrade or otherwise use the spiritual power of the remains for personal gain.”
Today we ask what will happen to the undiscovered remains of those lost in Lāhainā town’s tragic fire, and what is being done to steward the sacred ancestral lands of West Maui. Will the agencies tasked with honoring and respecting the lives of Maui’s loved ones step up to protect the iwi (bones) and the ‘āina (the land and all its resources), or is the cleanup phase of this disaster already a desecration in progress?
Last week we learned that with at least 388 people still missing in the aftermath of the Lāhainā fire, investigators had already wrapped up their search-and-recovery mission. While the County of Maui is now posting an updated list of the unaccounted for (currently at 385 individuals), the EPA has moved on to scrubbing hazardous waste from the area in what could be a months-long process. It’s unclear at this point whether any further attempts will be made to salvage bone fragments from the ashes.
“Some victims may never be found. Others may not be discovered for many weeks, months or even years.”
What we do know is that the cleanup process involves the spraying of an adhesive called “Soiltac.” Once hazardous waste has been removed from a property, the EPA will apply the glue to the remaining “debris” and ash to prevent materials from blowing off the area. The County of Maui states that the “Soiltac EPA will use is dyed pink and is non-toxic and biodegradable.” The EPA claims the product has been approved by the state and county but provides contradicting information that the adhesive “dries clear.”
There is no mention by county, state, or federal agencies of any process to sift through the ash beforehand to ensure that no human remains are glued down with the rubble. According to the EPA, the adhesive will naturally break down after about six months or if it’s physically disturbed by people walking on it. Whether glued ash that may contain bone fragments will be removed and taken to the landfill during that time has not been disclosed.
Soiltac is a product of Soilworks, “the world’s leading manufacturer of environmentally safe soil stabilizers and dust control agents offering commercial, industrial and military solutions to customers worldwide.” It contains synthetic vinyl copolymer dispersion and water. The Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the product includes a statement on intended uses:
“For industrial use only. Major industries include construction, mining, military, municipal, oil & gas, energy & renewable energy and transportation.”
The EPA confirms that the glue “has not been used extensively on other wildfires.” While Soilworks claims the adhesive is “completely eco-safe, biodegradable, water resistant, ultraviolet ray resistant, non-flammable and is safe for humans, animals, vegetation and marine life,” the SDS includes some concerning statements:
“MATERIAL DISPOSAL
Recover or recycle if possible. Do NOT dispose into the environment, in drains or in water courses. To the best of our knowledge, this material does not meet the definition of hazardous waste under the U.S. EPA Hazardous Waste Regulations 40 CFR 261. Solidify and dispose of in an approved landfill. It is the responsibility of the waste generator to determine the toxicity and physical properties of the material generated to determine the proper waste classification and disposal methods in compliance with applicable regulations.”
“ADDITIONAL ADVICE
Local authorities should be advised if significant spillages cannot be contained.”
“DISCLAIMER
The information presented in this Safety Data Sheet is based on data believed to be accurate as of the date this Safety Data Sheet was prepared. HOWEVER, NO WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR ANY OTHER WARRANTY IS EXPRESSED OR IS TO BE IMPLIED REGARDING THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED ABOVE, THE RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED FROM THE USE OF THIS INFORMATION OR THE MATERIAL, THE SAFETY OF THIS MATERIAL, OR THE HAZARDS RELATED TO ITS USE…”
This is not reassuring information for a product that is being sprayed on every property in the entire Lāhainā disaster area. What guarantee do we have that this won’t affect our nearby ocean ecosystems? What residual effects might it have on the soil and on air quality? The SDS describes the material as “practically non-toxic.” What quantity would need to be used in a specific environment for it to be considered toxic?
Soiltac is stated to be non-flammable, but the SDS then notes that “dried material will burn in a fire.” So, as a liquid it won’t burn, but once it’s dry it can become a fire hazard. Will repeated layers of this adhesive be applied over time? How might that affect flammability and toxicity?
We also don’t know if cleanup and redevelopment plans for the area might include heavier use of the soil tackifier moving forward:
“The most durable soil stabilizer of Soilworks’ product lines, Soiltac can be customized to achieve the results you need. Modest application rates are useful for dust suppression and erosion control by creating a three-dimensional cap or surface crust. Heavier application rates can generate qualities similar to cement, useful for soil solidification and stabilization found in road building. By adjusting the application rate, Soiltac can remain effective from weeks to several years.”
A 2010 peer-reviewed study from Trinidad and Tobago concluded that “although Soiltac greatly decreases soil erosion, since it also increases runoff, its use in agricultural fields should be limited.” What happens when this adhesive is applied on properties near the shoreline before heavy rainfall? Will runoff, debris, and toxic materials be more likely to end up in the ocean as water is prevented from soaking into the soil and instead glides over the treated ground?
Lastly, what exactly is the nanotechnology in this glue comprised of, and why hasn’t the use of nanotech in this product been disclosed by the agencies applying it liberally to Maui’s environment?:
“Soilworks’ recent advances in simulation, chemistry, processing techniques, and analytical instrumentation have allowed a whole host of new types of polymer particles and polymer nanotechnology applications to be realized. These advances led to the revolutionary development of nanotechnology into Soiltac’s superior performance.
Once applied to the soil or aggregate, the copolymer molecules coalesce forming bonds between the soil or aggregate particles. The key advantage of Soiltac originates with its long, nanoparticle molecular structure that link and cross-link together. As the water dissipates from the soil or aggregate, a durable and water resistant matrix of flexible solid-mass is created. Once cured, Soiltac becomes completely transparent, leaving the natural landscape to appear untouched.”
These are questions we should be asking through the Hawai‘i Environmental Policy Act (HEPA) process that requires comprehensive environmental impact statements for projects that are determined to have significant impact on natural and cultural resources. Unfortunately, governor Josh Green suspended Hawai‘i’s environmental review law, along with provisions related to historic preservation, when he signed his Emergency Proclamation Relating to Housing just three weeks prior to the Lāhainā fire. Government transparency through the Sunshine Law has also been suspended, and new administrative rules in the executive order threaten the protection of Native Hawaiian burial remains uncovered as the cleanup and rebuild plows ahead.
This project is only just beginning, and already it appears to be in violation of HEPA, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA), the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), landowner rights, and common decency.
We need to continue to come together as a community and call out the decision-makers for these islands who seem to have lost sight of what it means to live with aloha. A peaceful protest is scheduled starting Monday 9/11 at 8:08am to stand up for the ‘āina, the ancestors, and our Maui ‘ohana. Updated details are being posted by event organizers. Our voices will be heard.
Hawai‘i Unites has taken the state to court to challenge their multi-agency project to release billions of lab-infected mosquitoes on 64,666 acres of East Maui’s natural reserve, watershed, and conservation area. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to our organization to help move our legal case forward.
Mahalo,
Tina Lia
Founder
Hawai‘i Unites
HawaiiUnites.org
Hawai‘i Unites is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation and protection of our environment and natural resources.
