A mysterious dark stain spreads across Honolulu Harbor. No one knows what it is or where it came from. Fish, crabs, eels — every living thing in the water is floating to the surface and dying. The black stuff in the water is not oil — so the oil response teams poised for action in the harbor do not mobilize. At the water’s edge, the state Department of Health (DOH) Emergency Response team goes into action.

Over the next two weeks, tens of thousands of dead fish are collected, harbor waters are scientifically tested and monitored, and divers check the harbor bottom and sensitive coral colonies. A multi-agency response team which includes the federal government and private business is organized to protect the environment from what has become known as the largest environmental disaster ever in Hawaiian waters.

Last September’s spill of 233,000 gallons of raw molasses into Honolulu Harbor was unprecedented. The incident attracted national and international attention. No one imagined the damage that the black, sugary syrup could do to sea life and commerce.

Protecting the public and the environment from chemicals and pollutants is the everyday mission of the DOH. This work is largely supported by 5 cents from every barrel of petroleum imported into the state of Hawaii. Today, the Environmental Response Revolving Fund is running low on cash, which threatens the state’s ability to respond to emergencies.

Pending before the Legislature right now is the Abercrombie administration’s request to place an additional 10 cents per barrel into the Response Fund. This would NOT increase the current tax. Rather, we are asking that a larger portion of the existing $1.05 per barrel tax be allocated to its original and intended purpose: to protect the public and environment from oil and chemical spills.

Here are some examples of how DOH responded to recent emergencies:

» In January, 27,000 gallons of jet fuel leaked from the Navy’s Red Hill underground storage tanks and threatened Honolulu’s precious drinking water supply. DOH and the Environmental Protection Agency are driving the Navy to clean up past releases and prevent any future spills.

» When contaminated soil was discovered under the ball field at Radford High School in March, our teams assured that the toxic soil was contained and that the school was safe for students and staff.

» Responding to concerns about possible health impacts from pesticides in the environment, the department tested water and soil on each island for contamination. The scientific results of this survey will provide facts to inform the emotionally charged debate.

» An old sugar mill on Kauai left high levels of poison in the soil. The department discovered lead and dioxin in what is now a residential community. The contamination was removed and the people in the homes and businesses will never be exposed to the dangerous chemicals.

To continue this important work, the 42 employee salaries that depend on barrel tax revenue need support. The Response Fund also needs to keep a reserve balance for the cleanup of unexpected disasters like the molasses spill.

We are asking lawmakers to take about $2.5 million in barrel tax revenue now being diverted into the state’s general fund, and direct those dollars to support their original intent. The next time a mysterious chemical or oil spill starts killing Hawaii’s marine life in the harbor or threatens the health of our people, our response team needs to be at the ready with the necessary resources to protect the public health and the environment from harm.