Deputy Director: Laurence K. Lau, Esq.
Ph. (808) 586-4424

The Environmental Health Administration oversees the following divisions and offices:

• Compliance Assistance Office
• Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Office
• Environmental Planning Office
• Environmental Resources Office
• Environmental Management Division
• Environmental Health Services Division
• State Laboratories Division

Compliance Assistance Office
Ph. (808) 586-4528
Established in 1998, the Compliance Assistance Office helps small businesses overcome the hurdles they face in their efforts to succeed in business while following environmental regulations.

Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Office
Ph. (808) 586-4249
The Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Office provides risk assessments, responds to the release of hazardous substances and oversees the cleanup of contaminated sites. The office responds to at least 150 incidents a year. Office activities include evaluating health effects of air and water pollutants when no standards exist.

Environmental Planning Office
Ph. (808) 586-4337
The Environmental Planning Office develops strategic plans, supports land use reviews and helps to get new programs underway. This office has been instrumental in developing the polluted runoff control program and is involved in coordinating watershed management projects.

Environmental Resources Office
Ph. (808) 586-4575
The Environmental Resources Office handles many of the grants and administrative responsibilities of the Environmental Health Administration, primarily seeing to it that the administration's reorganization is fully implemented, that new positions are described and established and maximum funding is obtained for programs from the EPA.

Environmental Management Division (EMD)
Ph. (808) 586-4304
EMDis responsible for implementing and maintaining statewide programs for controlling air and water pollution, for assuring safe drinking water, and for the proper management of solid and hazardous waste. The division also regulates the state's wastewater.

• Clean Air Branch
  Ph. (808) 586-4200 The Clean Air Branch is responsible for the implementation of a statewide air pollution control program through services which include engineering analysis and permitting, monitoring and investigations, and enforcement of the federal and state air pollution control laws and regulations. The Clean Air Branch also monitors and conducts inspections of schools for compliance with the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA).
  


• Clean Water Branch
  Ph. (808) 586-4309
  The Clean Water Branch administers and enforces statewide water pollution laws and rules. This is achieved through permitting of point sources, compliance monitoring, inspections, investigations of complaints, and ambient water quality monitoring.
  


• Safe Drinking Water Branch
  Ph. (808) 586-4258
  The Safe Drinking Water Branch administers federal and state safe drinking water regulations to the approximately 155 "public water systems" in the State of Hawaii to assure that the water served by these systems meets state and federal standards. Any system which services 25 or more people a minimum of 60 days per year or has at least 15 service connections is subject to these standards and regulations. This program directly affects the drinking water quality of approximately 90-95% of the people in the State.
  
  
• Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch
  Ph. (808) 586-4226
  The Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch oversees management of all solid waste generated within the State through the promotion of pollution prevention and waste minimization activities, and the development of partnerships with both generators and the regulated community. SHWB also works to prevent releases, or threats of releases, of petroleum, hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants into the environment through aggressive enforcement of environmental laws and regulations.
  
  

• Wastewater Branch
  Ph. (808) 586-4294
  The Wastewater Branch implements the construction of county wastewater facilities with federal and state financing by low interest loans from the State Revolving Fund. The Branch has been involved in a number of other regulatory and financing issues.

Environmental Health Service Division (EHSD)
Ph. (808) 586-4576
EHSD is responsible for implementing and maintaining statewide programs to assure the safety of food and drugs, control noise and radiation, and improve indoor air quality. The division is also responsible for lead abatement, sanitation, and vector control (rats, mosquitoes, and other public health threats).

• Food and Drug Branch
  Ph. (808) 586-4725
  The Food and Drug Branch ensures that food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices and related consumer products are safe, effective (in the case of drugs and medical devices), and properly labeled; and that poisonous household substances are packaged in child resistant containers when required by rule. The branch also provides education and consultation for food handlers.
  
  
• Noise, Radiation and Indoor Air Quality Branch
  Ph. (808) 586-4700
  The Noise Radiation and Indoor Air Quality Branch is responsible for statewide programs of community noise and radiation control through the provision of services which include inspectional, educational, consultative and enforcement activities. The Branch also works to ensure that air conditioning and ventilation rules are enforced and that the public is protected from exposure to lead and asbestos.
  
  
• Sanitation Branch
  Ph. (808) 586-8000
  The Sanitation Branch is responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the statutes, rules, and policies relating to environmental sanitation. The branch regulates food and service establishments, public swimming pools, housing, milk, recreational trailer camps, tattoo artists, licensing for sanitarians, mortuaries, cemeteries and embalmers.
  
  
• Vector Control Branch
  Ph. (808) 483-2535
  The Vector Control Branch prevents or suppresses outbreaks of vector-borne diseases and vector nuisance by maintaining vector populations below disease-transmitting or nuisance-causing levels.
  
  

State Laboratories Division
Ph. (808) 453-6652
The State Laboratories Division (SLD) administers a statewide program which conducts analytical testing services in support of environmental health and communicable disease control activities, as well as public health emergency preparedness and response efforts. SLD provides consultative and other related laboratory services to departmental programs, health care providers, institutions, and various federal, state, county, and city agencies including the certification of certain types of laboratories, and the licensing of clinical laboratory personnel and medical review officers. SLD participates in environmental and public health training, research, exercises, and investigations.