WASHINGTON, D.C. -- United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye announced today that the Senate Appropriations Committee approved $1.735 million for important Hawaii initiatives, including $500,000 to continue the work of the Hawaii Forests and Communities Initiatives (HFCI) to address forestry opportunities in the wake of sugar plantation closures, as well as native hardwood forest restoration as contemplated under the Hawaii Tropical Forest Recovery Act.

"I wish to thank the Committee for its continued support of the Hawaii Forests and Communities Initiatives. The HFCI has become the catalyst for bringing federal, state, private and community interests together to build a sustainable forestry industry in Hawaii. In addition, HFCI's major marketing effort for Hawaii's forest products has added value and jobs to our local economy," stated Senator Inouye.

The Committee also approved $500,000 to establish a cooperative program between the Hawaii Volcanoes Observatory on the Big Island and the University of Hawaii at Hilo. The program will investigate volcanic processes with the objective of developing new technologies to improve the ability to forecast potentially damaging and life-threatening volcanic eruptions in the United States.

"I am pleased that the Committee approved funding for this important partnership. The consortium will bring together the most knowledgeable professionals in the volcanology field and further our progress toward developing the technology necessary to protect the lives and property of our citizens living near potentially active volcanoes," stated Senator Inouye.

At the request of Senator Inouye and the Administration, the Committee approved a $275,000 increase in the budget for park operations at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The additional $275,000 will allow for an additional resource management specialist to provide long-term solutions for unwelcome alien plant species and pay for utility and repair costs associated with maintaining the insect quarantine research facility.

Also at the request of Senator Inouye and the Administration, the Committee approved a $240,000 increase in the budget for park operations at Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park on the Big Island. Funding would provide an ongoing program of alien plant eradication and native plant reintroduction and will allow for the monitoring of resource conditions to deal effectively with threats that are impacting the resources. Funding will also allow for the implementation of an integrated pest management program, a cave management program, and will strengthen vegetative management throughout the park.

In addition, the Committee included $120,000 to install a network of six seismometer stations and related telemetry equipment to monitor volcanic earthquakes on East Maui. Further, $100,000 was approved to begin the planning and preliminary work for a monitoring well for Molokai's Kualapuu aquifer to assist the State Water Commission and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands manage this precious water resource.

The Committee also approved $32.964 million to continue funding American Samoa's government operations, infrastructure and capital improvement projects. $22.824 million is for the operational needs of the American Samoa Government, and $10.14 million is for badly needed construction of public works.

These provisions are included in the Fiscal Year 1999 Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, which will now go to the full Senate for consideration. It will face a joint House-Senate Conference and final House and Senate votes before its transmittal to the White House.