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MT. ST; HELENS: AN ASSESSMENT

ISSUE BRIEF NUMBER IB80066

AUTHOR:
Perri , Karl a

Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division

THE LIBRARY OF comcnzss
CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

MAJOR ISSUES SYSTEM

DATE oE1sINATED Q§4g§4§Q
DATE UPDATED gggggggg

%FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CALL 287-5700

0912

CRS- 1 IB80066 UPDATE-09/09/80

0 ;§§vB-2§-;§;2;9n

esouthwestern Washington State showed renewed signs of activity for the

 4inoticeable bulge of rock grew on the north flank of the mountain.

 into the sky.

.’27, a series of stronger quakes occurred,

volcano in
first
time in 123 years, with earthquakes and some steam activity. Then on March
and steam and ash spewed 10,000 ft.

In late Harch 1980, at. St. Helens, a sno-capped dormant

into the air.

During April and May, earthquakes and volcanic activity continued and a
On Sunday,
May 18, a monstrous explosion tossed almost a cubic mile of ash 60,000 ft.
Hot mudflows, flash flooding, death, major destruction of the
surrounding forests due to airblast, and possible damage to crops, livestock,
and fish and wildlife resulted. Scientists and government officials were

‘:‘examining and estimating the depth and scope of the initial destruction when

covered the southwest
12,

a second major eruption, the next Sunday, may 25,
portion of the state with ash. The third major eruption occurred June

y,with a burst of ash and steam that rose 52,000 feet in the air, hurling a new

_ Washington. As of June 16, damage is estimated to exceed 2.7 billion
s‘dollars.
fl;Ragree92z2-;§2.29L;2z.AzAL1§;§
at. St. Helens is one of a chain of volcanoes in the Cascade Mountain
3 Range, extending from northern California through Oregon and Washington, to
southwestern British Columbia. All the volcanoes have long periods of

downpour of volcanic ash across northwestern Oregon and southwestern

dormancy, punctuated with shorter periods of activity. The most recent major

 volcanic activity in this chain occurred at Lassen Peak, California, in 1914
-- although Ht; Baker in northern Washington and Ht. Hood, east of Portland
and only 40 miles southeast of Ht. St. Helens, have emitted steam

Lflfintermittently during the past several years.

Located in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in the Cascade Mountain
Range, 40 miles northeast of Portland, Oregon, Mt. St. Helens overlies a
volcanic center that was formed 37,000 years ago. The most active and

explosive period has been within the last 4,500 years, involving" hot

3 pyroclastic flows (masses of hot rock fragments) that can travel at speeds of

Qiwhich move to considerable distances at high speeds.

iT;last period of activity for Mt. St. Helens ended 123 years ago and

up to 100 mph —— incinerating people and objects within a matter of seconds
W as far as 6 miles from the base of the mountain - and lava flows (molten
“?rock) which tend to appear after an eruption has been in progress - for days
or weeks -- rather than during the first part of the eruption. These

activities can then trigger mudflows (a mass of water-saturated rock debris)
The chief danger to
human life would be burial by ash, sudden impact from large boulders swept
along in the flooding stream, and possible severe burns from the rock. The
coincided
along the San Andreas
created Spirit Lake ‘by

with (but was not correlated to) a major earthquake
f'u1t in California. That Mt. St. Helens outburst

,,d xming a valley with ash and rock; the explosion on May 18« destroyed the
lake. Because of the long history of spasmodic explosive activity,
geologists Crandall and Hullineaux of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

l;reported in 1971 that at. st. Helens was --

CR5“ 2 W IB3G066 UPfifiTE*09/09/30

an especially dangerous volcano -- more active and
explosive than any other volcano in the coterminuous
“United States...violent and intermittent

eruptions [are] a near certainty e-that will not her
possible to prevent or stop once they

' begin - affecting human life and health, property,
agriculture, and general economic welfare over a broad
area.  

Efforts to determine the numerous kinds of impacts of the volcanic

’ ‘eruption began immediately after the major event on Bay 18. Numerous Federal

and State agencies undertook analytic programs, butt these are unlikely to
provide-definitive answers for some time. The second major eruption on may

»“‘25 and the third major eruption on June 12 drastically curtailed research

efforts, both for reasons of safety and because of priority actions necessary

_.to protect people and property in local areas. The following analysis

fffdiscusses preliminary reports on geological assessments of volcanic debris,i

air and water quality, health effects, timber, fisheries, agriculture and

& land use, and disaster-assistance programs.

 Qeelggieel-_A§§e_=-zene.r;2:.§-2f_!9l.<;ee;2.2shLie

(James E. Hielke, Science Policy-Research Division, 287-7031)

Volcanic ash rarely contains enough toxic material to seriously ydamage
plants and animals. The mineral matter itself is relatively inert“ and the

wg:worst effects seem to be the physical nuisancey and possible respiratory

problems. In areas of heavy ash fall, the physical nuisance is considerable,
affecting human safety and the operation of cars, farm machinery, and other

iieguipment. Fine particles of volcanic glass and rock dust are irritating to

respiratory systems and can aggravate existing health problems such as
emphysema. Geochemically, the fine-grained material is a renewed source of

'f;trace elements and mineral nutrients normally found in the soil in the area.

The plume from the first cataclysmic eruption followed the upper-level jet

.v stream northeasterly across Washington, northern Idaho, and western Montana.

It then curved southeast, spreading out as it moved across Wyoming toward

__Nebraska and Kansas, then continuing east across the northeastern 0.5. The

coarsest ash particles, measuring 60 to 100 microns in diameter, fell within
100 miles of the volcano. The average weight of the ash material ranged from
40 to 60 microns in diameter, and was present in heavy amounts as far east as

ilwestern Hontana, where two inches-was reported. As much as 4-6 inches of ash

was deposited across parts of central and eastern Washington. The finest ash

1 particles, on the order of one micron, remain in the atmosphere.

In additional problem related to ash geochemistry is primarily generated
from the associated volcanic gases: The most abundant gas given off is water

‘vapor; however, various proportions of other gases are often present. These .

are carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, sulfur trioxide,
hydrogen sulfide, hydrochloric acid, and hydrofluoric acid, all of which are

mg harmful to plants and animals when present in sufficient. concentration.

Sulfur oxides, for example, combine with water to give sulfurous and sulfuric
acid. These gases, probably in the form of acids, adhere to the surface of

__the ash particles and accumulate where the ash is deposited. In an

exceptionally severe case, such as the eruption of Irazu ind Costa Rica in

CRS- 3 IB80066 UPDATE—09/09/80

1963-1965, the ash was so acidic (pH lower than R) that it produced acid

Hurns on plants and corroded metals. To date, acidity has not been a
significant problem in the ash fall from Hount St. Helens although very
acidic conditions have been observed locally in the plume from the eruption.

iW;§limatis-§f_§si§

(John Justus, Science Policy Research Division, 287-7014)

major volcanic eruptions can emit vast amounts of dust, ash, and cinders

iinto the atmosphere. The largest eruptions are even capable of injecting

enough material into the stratosphere (10 to 30 miles altitude) to generate a

5°fglobe-girdling veil of volcanic dust. The dust can attenuate as much as a‘

few percent of the solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface for several

N years in succession, possibly causing a globally averaged cooling of the
i“*atmosphere on the order of several tenths of a degree Celsius. ‘

The dust released by at. St. Helens has created devastation locally on the

riland, and its fallout from the lower atmosphere has covered the land in."

several northwestern States. In terms of its effect in the atmosphere, this
ejection of debris is relatively modest and is expected to have negligible

Hiimpact on climate. Preliminary estimates of materials released range up to a

few cubic kilometers.’

Lr_92aliL1

(maria Grimes, mnnvironment and Natural Resources Policy Division,

y 237-7253)

The volcanic debris that has been emitted into the atmosphere essentially

consists of coarse particulate matter and clouds of minute dust. Once

o:.airborne, these particles may remain in the stratosphere for years, or they

may drift downward into the troposphere, adversely affecting_ air quality.
The smaller particles may contain a variety of harmful chemical substances
that could pose short- and long-term health hazards. The Clean Air Act (P.L.
95-95), as amended, addresses pollution from manmade sources. Consequently,
there are no provisions for indemnification of persons whose health has been

{ harmed by exposure to air pollutants resulting from natural processes.

By collecting samples of ash and monitoring atmospheric change, the USGS
and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have issued
some preliminary assessments of the initial ash fall.

, The agencies have determined that the volcanic ash is only slightly acid ‘
or is neutral, thereby contributing very little acidity to the prevailing air

quality. Subsequent analysis, however, may detect concentrations of

p.fluorides, chlorides, sulfates, trace metals, and chemical compounds that are

more acidic and more toxic. USGS and NCAA have also found that ash contains
considerable amounts of free silica, some types.of which are known to cause

_t: -icosis. A complete evaluation of the risk of short-term exposure is not

yet available. The agencies’ initial analyses indicate that the amount of
ash to which the general population is being exposed is unlikely to pose a
significant health hazard. Conversely, the Environmental Protection Agency

hi(EPA) is concerned about the continuing exposure to a large volume. of

cns— u IB80066 UPDATEé09/09/80

particles less than 2.5 microns in size that are airborne in areas in thr

Northwest. These respirable particles reenter the ambient air and are groun

7'feven finer by moving vehicles; they are dispersed again by the prevailing 0

winds, thereby perpetuating the problem.

On nay 26, the EPA, in Washington State, issued a statement cautioning the .

public that a‘ surgical mask or scar may not be adequate to prevent

ywqinhalation of the fine particulate matter. On June 16, the agency's Portland
'::office declared an air pollution warning, alerting persons susceptible to air
pollutants to stay indoors. The alert lasted two weeks.

, Industry is voicing concern that the volcanic emissions could be *
sustainable and long-lasting enough to throw. many clean air areas into
, nonattainment, closing them to economic growth. Under present Clean Air Act

’"Iprovisions, no options may be available should these emissions of L

particulates, and possibly of sulfur oxides, add enough to background air

_ pollution levels to violate ambient air quality standards directly, or exceed V

5fi7pernissible levels when industrial emissions are added. Following the June

12 eruption, National Semiconductor Corp. decided against building a m$70
million plant near Portland. Kevin Kelly of Portland's 0.5. National. Bank

"inoted that semi-conductor manufacturers, one of the driving forces of ‘

Portland's economy in the past five years, requirer clean-room technology.

_ Companies will look elsewhere if they’ cannot be assured a dust-free q
0 <environment in Oregon and Washington. -   - w

(Claudia Copeland, Environmental and Natural Resources Policy Division,

° 2e7—72ua) 0 0 P

Sampling andn analytical programs are unlikely to provide definitive
answers for some time. However, certain facts are quickly apparent. These

_ effects are known to have occurred:

(1) uudflows, derived from the volcano and mobilized by snowmelt from the
mountain, have filled the streambeds of the Kalama River to the southwest and
Pine Creek to the southeast with rock debris, displacing large amounts of
water and causing nearby flooding. Spirit Lake to the north was destroyed.
To the southwest, scientists believe that there probably has been damage to
aquatic life in the Columbia River estuary. The buildup of mud and debris
will probably require dredging of the harbor at Portland, Oregon, so that
ships may again leave and enter the third busiest port on the West Coast.

(2) Heat and the sediment buildup from the mudflows and volcanic ash are

,.believed to have destroyed aquatic life in waters in all directions from the

mountain. Temperatures of 100 degrees Farenheit or more were reported in

0 some streams, far above tolerable levels for fish and other organisms. The

estimated $2.7 billion loss to‘ the area includes lost recreational

. opportunities on lakes and streams.

(3) A number of cities in the vicinity of at. St. Helens utilize surface

Qjwaters as sources for drinking water supply. At least two, Longview to the

west and Yakima to the east, have been unable to use these sources (the
Columbia and Natchez Rivers, respectively) due to plugging of mechanical

:}intakes by the mud and sediment. These communities were forced to find

alternative drinking water supplies for the approximately 80,000 residents

CBS- 5 IB80066 UPDATE-09/O9/80

affected. To the extent that further eruptions occur and runoff of sediment
into streams continues, mechanical problems in the water-treatment plants of
chese and other communities could necessitate using alternate supplies as
interim measures. .

In addition to concern that the ash dust night contain trace elements or

minerals.which may have adverse impacts, scientists acknowledge that sulfur

and other salt conpounds are likely to be present in the gaseous emissions

’7 from the volcano. If the. sulfurous gases are abundant, and airborne i

particles in the ash dust contain heavy metal compounds of elements such as

, iron and aluminum, a rainfall could cause these compounds to hydrolyze and _

release additional acidity in a stream. However, the extent of acidification
in any particular waterway will be influenced by the degree of dilution and

T naturalbuffering (neutralization) which may occur, based on concentration of

“the acid load, relative volume of any acid rain and the receiving water,, and a

flow rate of neutralizing waters through an affected area.

In the long term, effects of the eruption .may benefit the return of

aquatic life to the affected lakes and streams. Deposition of volcanic ash

could be expected to enrich soil, as nutrients and trace elements released

‘C from the ash in turn are leached from the soil~ and into nearby waterways. 9

some of these naterials, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, would act, as
fertilizers for aquatic plant life and biota, including algae, at the base of

iithe aquatic food chain. Such organisms‘would be necessary to support higher

species, including salmon ..
2elrh-§£:eet§

(Christopher H. Dodge, Science Policy Research Division, 287-7071)

on Hay 21, 1980, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) of the Bureau of

" Epidemiology in Atlanta, Georgia, and the National Institute of Occupational

safety and Health (NIOSH) in Morgantown, Best Virginia, jointly responded to

,5fa request from the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services

to assist in an epidemiological evaluation of health effects related to the
eruption. They established a hospital-based surveillance system in the

”=affected portions of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Hontana to monitor

emergency room visits and admissions  following each eruption. The
preliminary analyses seek to ,distinguish between respiratory,

usgastrointestinal, and skin diseases, and between various types of

stress-related problems. CDC and NIOSH personnel also expect to focus on
certain high-risk groups such as persons with pre-existing respiratory

4, conditions, smokers, and workers involved in the clean—up process.

Analysis and samples show that ash and dust from the eruption contain a

.jllarge amount of free crystalline silica. Long-term exposure may lead to

silicosis - a lung disease often contracted by sandi blasters, miners, and
others who inhale dust- A key issue is the size of the free crystalline
silica particles. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that particles of 10

nmicrons or more are generally stopped in the nose, throat, or bronchial tubes

ard are eventually eliminated from the respiratory system. Particles of

<.e .ica dust smaller than 10 microns cannot. be easily stopped by natural

defense mechanisms and are inhaled into the air sacs of the lungs. Samples
of the dust from the Ht. St. Helens fallout which is less than 10 microns in

ysize contain 4-6% free silica and particularly free silica in the crystalline

form. Authorities do not presently know what the significance of this level

CES- 6 IB30066 UPDATE-09/09/30"

of free crystalline silica is. In addition.to silicosis, CDC and NIOSH are
aware of a possible exacerbation of bronchial and asthmatic diseases as wel-

"‘as emphysema.

(Robert Wolf, Environment_and Natural Resources Policy Division, 287-7233)

work is actively underway to survey daages incurred and to commence

"W‘salvage operations on some of the timber affected by the Hay 18 multi-megatone

blast from at. St. Helens. The initial process will concentrate onw planning
and organizational activities until a careful determination by USGS indicates

‘”"that it is safe for workers to proceed with salvage operations. Them

eruptions of Hay 25 and June 12 were not as destructive to timber as that of

. may 18. The following discussion  will focus primarily on the immediate V

effects incurred following the first major eruption.

1) The blast of may 18 virtually leveled the timber on over 130 square

1 miles and affected the timber on a 100,000-acre area, (150 square miles). -

Within the immediate 6 miles of the blast all of the timber was destroyed.

4 Almost 500 miles of streams were damaged, of which 23 miles were destroyed by

ymudflows; 26 lakes were also severely damaged. Current estimates (as of June 2

26) indicate that 3.2 billion board feet (b.b.f-) of public and private

4% timber was affected, of which 1.6 b.b.f. is on u5,ooo acres of the Giffordi
0 Pinchot National Forest. on 17,000 private acres inside the national forest,

600 million board feet owned by industry was damaged. (Weyerhauser Co» and
the Burlington, Northern Railroad Co. were the principal owners of private

‘r timber.) A total of 674,000 acres (1000 square miles), is estimated to be .

overlaid with ash deposits which can affect forest growth and condition.
Further eruptions and ash» blanketing, depending on severity, may have
significant adverse impacts on public and private timber and forest lands
and, thus, may affect forest management.for several decades.

2) Planning for salvage operations is currently underway. Using existing '

authority, purchasers of salvage timber holding green sales elsewhere may be
permitted contract extensions on those sales to meet priority cutting

‘.requirements on salvage timber when sold. only three active sales, with 4.7 1

million b.f. left to cut, were destroyed on the national forest- lands.
Current unconfirmed estimates state that the Forest Service may be» able to

vqnsalvage 800 m.b.f.,.about half the damaged timber. Industry may be able to

salvage about 130 m-b.f., about 20% of their damaged timber.

3) The Washington State Game Department reports that 1.5 million wild

xi mammals and birds have been killed. Department officials estimate that the

State's economy will lose $102,094,300 this year as a direct result of fish

,;and wildlife losses, and that the Game Department will sustain a $u.5 million <

loss in revenue during the 1981-83 biennium. Habitat restoration and other
costs will be more than $22 million over the next ten years. Animals lost

e due to the blast, mudflows, and ash fall include 5,250 elk, 6,000 deer, 200

bears, 100 mountain goats, 15 cougars, and thousands of smaller animals.

4) The Washington State Department of Natural Resources recently issued a e

resource damage assessment which shows a $102 million loss on State land as a
result of the eruptions. Losses on private land were placed at $059 million.

, The total resource loss to the Forest Service on National Forest land is $134

million. Forest Service losses for facilities for transportation and public

cns- 7   lIB80066 upnmms-09/o9/so

recreation are valued at $26 million. Reestablishment costs, if
*eestablishment is indeed feasible, are estimated to be much higher.

5) The subcommittee on Forests off the House Committee on Agriculture
heard testimony on H.R. 745R (introduced May 28, 1980) on June 12. The chief

Wlof the Forest Service commented on the proposed new and revised authorities

in H.R. 7u5u... “the broad authorities »which Congress has provided the

Mpsecretary regarding forestry...contain the latitude necessary to insure
y prompt and orderly recovery and rehabilitation of the renewable

resources...and...make the authorities proposed in H.R. 7u75 unnecessary. In
addition, we feel that some of the new provisions are undesirable."

fl7Testimony by weyerhauser indicated... "we do not support H.R. 745a as

presently written..-" And testimony of the wilderness Society said... "there
are so many unanswered questions about this issue, we are not convinced this

f~is the right solution at this time and cannot give it our support." Further I

testimony by Robert Trilling, a DSGS volcanologist, indicated that additional

flyeruptions and uncertainty as to the scope ad impact of the eruptions on the y
-entire community would remain for years. ‘  

izisheries

(Eugene H.; Buck, Environment and Natural Resources Policy _Division,
287-726a) F

some indications suggest that although fish inhabiting waters in the paths ‘

E lava flows or ash falls may be harmed by the immediatea effects of the
eruption, the fisheries resources of an area might benefit over a longer time

.t span if the chemical content of the volcanic debris were such that nutrients 1

(such as phosphorus and silicon) were subseguently- released from this
material into the aquatic environment. These nutrients usually stimulate

’fjbiological productivity and could result in increased fish growth and

abundance.

Immediate impacts of volcanic activity on fisheries resources included:

l(1) catastrophic flooding, reported as destroying 11.5 million_salmon valued

at $3 million (more than 7% of the total hatchery production of the State of

f Washington) at the Toutle fish hatchery (on the Green River 1/2 mile above

its confluence with the Toutle River) immediately following the at. St.
Helens eruption; (2) water temperature increased, destroying habitat or

_ killing fish outright, reported to have adversely affected steelhead trout

resident in the Toutle River (unconfirmed reports indicate temperatures in
the Toutle may have increased from a normal 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit to more

_ than 100 degrees Fahrenheit; (3) lands1ides:blocked stream channels in the

Spirit-Lake area and rendered traditional spawning areas of salmon and other
migrating fish unusable; (H) fish mortality attributable to gill damage from

hsediment of volcanic origin; and (5) suffocation of fish when streams become

excessively turbid with mud and ash resulting from volcanic activity. These
same circumstances could adversely affect fisheries resources by killing food

*«organisms upon which fish depend. Combined losses may result in a 1 to 2%

decline in salmon harvest off the Oregon and Washington coasts and a $8.9
million loss of income to the sport and commercial fishing industry.
A litional concerns have been expressed for marine resource damage from ash
settling to cover the sea bottom off the mouth of the Columbia River.

Initial observations and damage estimates from the Mt. St. Helens area
suggest that as many as 500,000 native fish.may have been lost in this event.

CRS— 8 T330066 UFDRTE-03/O9/80

The spring run of adult Chinook salmon returning to spawning areas and the

g annual outmigration of juvenile salmon to the ocean were in progress at th\

' ‘time of the eruption and the summer run of adult steelhead to the Cowlitz *

River should begin soon. Although several hatcheries were evacuated of

Wfipersonnel, only the Toutle hatchery on the Green River received extensive
";damage- Damage to buildings and equipment has been estimated at $100,000.

This hatchery may have to be abandoned. Damage to Federal salmon facilities

M in the area was estimated at around $50 million. Resident fish in the Toutle

0 River and other tributaries of the Cowlitz River as well as along the main *

'Cowlitz River were, most affected by the eruption. Siltation of these
pywaterways was observed to be severe. The lower 20 miles of the Cowlitz River

5”.was uninhabitable for aquatic life for a period of time following the -

eruption and became a barrier to fish attempting to migrate upstream. to

wyspawning grounds. Continued poor water quality in the lower Cowlitz River
" forced the State of Washington to truck salmon produced in the undamagedi;

Cowlitz hatchery to other rivers fo release. Siltation damage also was

wyincurred on the Green, Kalama, and Lewis Rivers.

The natural recovery of fisheries resources after volcanic ‘activity

_ depends primarily upon the speed with which damaged habitat improves so vthat

53‘it can once again be inhabited by fish and their food organisms, and upon the,’

ability of unharmed fish from adjacent habitat to migrate into the decimated

, area to restock habitat as it becomes able to support fish. Host adaptable
’ to rapid recovery are anadromous fish such as salmon. Furthermore, the life "

cycle of such fish insures that at least one generation, and usually several,
will be in the ocean at any moment in time. Thus, the entire stock of any

1w?area cannot be easily destroyed by one eruptive event-

Alternatives to natural repopulation off fisheries resources are, of

h course, available using artificial restocking from other drainages-in nearby e

areas that were unharmed. Habitat improvement methods can also be employed

_ to speed aquatic habitat recovery from floods, landslide, siltation, or
xwyerosion damage.

 Agrisulture

(Karla Perri, Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division, 287-7296)

A major difficulty in assessing the effect of the ash flow on crops and

ii livestock is that the at. St. Helens eruption is the first 0.5. mainland

eruption (excluding Hawaii, Alaska, and the territories) in recent history
that has caused substantial ash discharge on a highly intensive agricultural
area. (Mexican volcanoes have affected nearby 0.5. wagricultural land.)

Fears that the ash is chemically harmful or extremely acidic are alleviated 

somewhat because tests have determined that the acidity level is low or

m.neutral, and the radioactivity (gross alpha) of the ash particles is normal

for soils. High acidity and a light rain could lead to a chemical reaction
that.might burn the leaves of fruit trees, cause spotting on the fruit, and

.i‘stunt fruit growth. Fortunately, a heavy rainfall occurred two days after
« the Hay 18 eruption, washing much of the ash off the leaves of the fruit

trees in eastern Washington State. The eruptions on may 25 and June 12 did

 inot substantially increase crop damage in Washington, because the wind

direction shifted the ash fallout westerly, toward the Portland area. The
fallout of Bay 25 was minimal; the eruption of June 12 caused some
agricultural damage to Washington County, Oregon, west of Portland. Varying
amounts of rain followed both eruptions, which will help incorporate the ash

CRS- 9 IB80066 UPDATE—09/O9/80

into the soil.» Therefore, agricultural damage estimates concentrate on the
\ffect of heavy ash cover from the eruption of May 18 and its potential for

'l_snothering grass seedlings, peas and lentils, and early hay crops;
Furthermore, agriculturalists emphasize that even if crops survive, farmers
must still be able to harvest and transport then and deliver feed to animals

‘Ni-- a difficult task due to air filter damage

”e7indicates the rank and monetary value of Washington's ten

pt.“

‘V '.
., 2
‘J

in
severe inhalation of particulate matter by farmers. Table 1 shows the
production of crops in Washington as a percentage of national production, and
most
agricultural products.

ieguipnent and potentially i

important  

!;20i0.239_§23s9-112z§1

CR5-70

IB30066 UPDATE-O9/D9/30

Principal Commodities and Value of Production

Ranking of Value

Wheat 1
milk 2
Apples 3
Cattle E Calves 4
Potatoes 5
Bay 6
All‘Pears 7
Sugar Beets 8
Sweet Cherries 9
Barley ‘ 10
Hops 13
Hint Oil 15
Asparagus 16
Green Peas   :17

Dry Edible Peas 23

For Washington State

Percentage of Total
L13-.§5-Q2:‘—.22’2_.(1.S1Z§).

9.8
N
28.fl
N
27.5
N
33.8
N
39.2
H
72.7
39.3
36.8
25.7
58.3

29ll2;-!2-9e.J12Z§1
055,532,000
292,335,000
255,910,000
100,070,000
120,170,000
121,350,000
52,020,000
09,255,000
00,275,000
05,595,000
30,030,000
27,200,000
20,335,000
20,170,000
15,000,000

N - not a significant percentage of total 0.5. output.

50111208 2

Washington, Agricultural Statistics, 1978. Washington Crop

hand Livestock Reporting Service, Washington Department of

Agriculture.

gystate.
‘has been smothered by four to five inches of ash.

7?losses remain at the projected $19 million mark,

°’However, two or three more hayings, due throughout the season,

H Hay losses are estimated at $35 million.

6 discarded during the week following the erution
A following the eruption of may 25,
lfgfarms.

agrspraying tha ash off the fruit trees because a
y_Difficulties would tend to be
cherries, apricots, and peaches-

iffinot help wash down trees.

-_ Yakima, one-fourth of the acres experienced a 90% drop with the

Lg industry as a whole should not experience

a with new forage to prevent digestive problems.
Lt

' houses was purely precautionary.

»Q:range from $10 - 15 million.

CRS-11 IB80066 UPDATE-09/O9/80

Initial damage assessments follow.

(1) Wheat is the major commodity and highest value producing crop in the
Young spring wheat, which in many places was only six inches high,
and the

not appear to be estimates prepared by ASCS

Washington

impaired. _ Damage

as of June 26.

(2) The first harvest of hay was lost because of smothering also.

farmers with approximately two—thirds of their anticipated annual income;

Peas, lentils, and grass seedlings in the early stages of growth were
Projected pea and lentil losses are, as of June 26, expected to
Washington
nation's peas and dried edible beans.

(3)

smothered.

(H) The 0.5. Department of Agriculture
of may 18 and the week
since delivery trucks could not reach the
Air filters in the trucks and the dairy holding tanks clogged.
Milk is the)

of transportation mobility will cause further dumping. second

‘\most valuable farm commodity in Washington.

commented that no serious fruit damage is
ash is low. Hany  growers tried

reduction in
interfere with crop growth.
stone fruits, such as

(5) A USU horticulturist
anticipated because acid content of the

could
prevalent on

(the effect of sun the leaves)

‘IOIG

OI1

probably will contribute to more sericns mite problems than normally
expected, especially in rill—irrigated orchards because such irrigation will
This year's cherry harvest is expected to be A

big as the 1979 bumper crop. 6

(6) Washington provides one-third of the:nation
crops are in the mature stages. Yakima and Grant counties
an excessive June drop in the red delicious variety of the

's apples and pears.
have experienced
apple crop. In

remaining
three-fourths experiencing a 50% drop. In Grant County, upwards of 50% of
the acres have experienced a 90% decrease in the apple crop. However, the
serious losses, although on an
individual basis the results will be more severe. Further difficulties can

arise from the inability to harvest.

(7) There is concern about livestock ingestion of ash particulate matter,
in hay and water supplies. Ranchers have been told to mix the older crops
However, animal scientists
fear that livestock might get too much molybdenum by eating ash-contaminated
f ed. Additionaly, cattle have tended to shy away from sulfurous water due
the extreme odor. Three of the State's largest beef-packing plants in
Ellensburg and Toppenish were closed after the may 18 eruption, pending an
analysis of the ash on animal hides. The USDA said closure of the packing
The two major‘ remaining concerns are
whether there will be any health problems associated with long-term breathing

The winter wheat crop does '

State University (USU) College of Agriculture indicate that wheat

should provide ‘

provides more than half of the I
(USDA) disclosedi that milk wasx¥

Lack'7

photosynthesis “
Furthermore, dusty conditions in orchards  
as _

Both 0

yibetween $1 - 2

_W loss from contaminated beeswax (which cannot be
i_fnormal operations that cannot be carried out and special costs

I_ bee population to be normal by next fall.

A; pollination which results from the

‘W principally strawberries.

’;fdamage was confined to Washington County, .west

0 for appropriations.

_ pollination due to death of bees.
«fcrops will be down by 50%.

CBS-12 IB80066 UPDATE-09/09/80

of the ash, and whether the ash will cause cattle, particularly dairy cows
to eat less than they normally do, which would affect production. Livestoch

‘losses are estimated at $38 million.

8) Dr. Carl Johansen, a WSU entomologist, said that although earlier

estimates indicated that honey bees would survive, it now appears that the

entire field force was annihilated. Approximately 17% of Washington's honey
bee colony may be wiped out.‘ As of June 26, 1980, the loss was estimated
million. Losses result from severe reduction in
production, loss of normal colony increase, loss of summer pollination
salvaged), and losses
of
However, the industry expects

fees,
to

and labor expended to cope with the ash fall.

suffering from smothering and
Estimates indicate that yields

9) Vegetable crops are

10) Berry crops could be affected by the=ash fallout due to a reduction in
honey bee losses.-
a $750,000 loss, as of June  26,

estimates indicate in -berry crops,

11) The eruption on June 12 resulted in some ash fallout in northwestern
Oregon. A survey of counties showed that the most serious agricultural
of Portland. Agricultural
commodities most seriously affected are hay, strawberries, cane berries, and
vegetables. Because of the small area affected, economic losses,. although

“serious for some farmers, will be relatively small in comparison to- Oregon's ‘D

total agricultural income.-
2.i.§:=I.s_r§=.1=.-.l.§§i§.3=.au<.=.e.
(Karla Perri, Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division, 287>7296)

on may 23, President Carter flew over the volcanic site~ and surrounding
area, and pledged disaster assistance to States immediately affected by the

1 volcanic fallout. Under the Disaster Relief Act of 1970 (P.L. 93-288), the
Z_ President  has the authority to provide relief to alleviate emergency
situations resulting from hurricanes, tornadoes, mudslides, volcanic
eruptions, tidal waves, and other natural disasters, through a special
nfemergency relief fund. ’
The Act is designed to streamline bureaucratic processes that are
\,nnecessary to provide immediate funds to State and local governments, as well
as to individuals. The special fund expands the authority of the Federal
Energency management Agency (PEMA) to coordinate relief efforts by

ysdistributing funds to agencies responsible for providing disaster assistance,

in addition to the funds annually appropriated to each individual agency for

emergency assistance. The nature and scope of the disaster together
, determine which types of assistance are available and ~which will be
authorized. v

FEHA has provided the President and Congress with a preliminary estimate
The initial response approved by the House and currently

honey 7

equipment :

inadequate H
of theses’

Preliminary damage *

CR5-13 IB80066 UPDATE-O 9/09/80

dbefore the Senate allocates $925 million for relief: $210 million for FEHA

xssistance; $2u0 “to the Army Corpse of Engineers; $150 million for
cransportation; $500,000 to the- Small Business Administration; and the
remaining amount is allocated to various agency relief programs.

Under FEHA, two types of assistance are available: public assistance and 0

individual and family assistance. Public assistance can be distributed to

a any legal entity, such as a city, township, regional, or State government;
' Funds are provided to clear debris from public .and private, property, tovi

provide protection for life and property, to repair and replace aroads, to

, engage in water control (dikes, river channelization), to repair and replace

"°public buildings, to restore‘ public property that may have been under 

construction at the time the disaster occurred, and to repair and replace
municipal equipment and public utilities; The monies issued under P.L.

'Wl93—288 to legal entities are categorical grants of‘ 100% - that is, they 0

require no repayment.

Individual and family assistance is provided under the Disaster Relief Act 7
through rent-free temporary housing for one year to inhabitantsi whose homes

were completely destroyed. minimum damage allotments are available to

if homeowners for repair, for disaster unemployment assistance, as low interest *

loans to small businesses and farms, and to»repair or replace real property.
The Individual and Family Grant program permits FEHA to loan up to $5,000 to

1 ”those who cannot meet other requirements to»qualify for loans. In this case I

the monies FBHA provides must not exceed 75% of the total anticipated costs.

In addition to assistance provided by FEHA, the following assistance is 

railable from USDA to provide relief to the agricultural and timber sector.
However, information is still being developed on the current status of

iCffunding availability. In_the short term, USDA can expend pfunds from the a

various emergency programs; however, in the long term, programs such as
community facility loans and forestry assistance are subject to congressional

’,lappropriations.

A9ri22;£2;al_§§a2i1iza$192.2 Q.Q22§e§za£i2u.§e£!i2e.lAS §l

1) §gg;ggggy_§ggd_ggQg;gg --Available if a livestock owner suffers a loss

"yin feed supplies of 40% or more.

2) §e£d-2£e§erxa2i2g-auQ.£esésrai2- Qeuafion Broqraa “ Feedqrains are

available to farmers following a natural disaster when it is apparent

livestock would perish without assistance.

3) §Q§-9ha2:er_lgris9l:2ral-A2:_2£-12£2 - Funds are available immediately
to make loans to farmers for wheat and other commodities.

4) §gg;ggggy_§gg§ervation P;gg;§g_j§ggL —- Limited .to soil and water

0’ conservation activities. Funds have been distributed for FY80. A Additional

funds are not available until appropriated.

5) ;9£i22l222al-§9u§e£vatien P£29£au_lA§£l -—-ACP funds may be used for
9 during conservation practices. Funds have been distributed for FY80.

,iL Aitional funds may be available when appropriated.

CBS-TU A IB30066 UPDATE-09/O9/80

0 1) Q;§g§ggg_§ggrgengy Program -‘ Available immediately to an establishef

,_farmer who has suffered a production loss of 20% or more or a substantial
' physical loss. Each applicant may receive up to $500,000 actual loss loan

per disaster.

2) §g9gggig_§mggggggy_g;gg;gg_1§§L - Available to farmers who cannot get »

loans elsewhere. Loans are limited to $fl00,000.  

s 3) §g;;_ggggg§hip_g;Qggag,(F0) - Lomg-term estate loan funds available to
a family—size operator unable to get a loan.elsewhere. Each applicant may
W receive a loan of up to $200,000 insured or $300,000 guaranteed.

4) gp_e_ggti.gg_Lggg_g_1_:9gg_am -- Available immediately. Each -applicant may F

receive a loan of up to $100,000 insured or $200,000 guaranteed. a

S) §gJ;.;.__§._1;d_§§t_e_g_g_r_qg1_:_a_;__(§i_i)_ -Available immediately to improvep and

Myrestore farmland and water; not limited to family farms.

6) ;;;iggtigg_ggg_Q;aigggg_g;gg;gg - Available immediately for irrigation

_ and drainage construction and repair to an association of farmers gunable to a
f‘get a loan elsewhere. i

1:9r2§§-Serz__ice-_l§§).

1) gggp_§ggg§§;y_A§§i§tgggg - Available immediately for fire-prevention

"W assistance, tree—seedling, technical assistance, and insect and disease

detection, upon consultation with StateiForester. There are no limitations

“tor eligibility requirements.

2) gggp_;gg_§g§9;ggmggt - Available immediately to support local law
Wgenforcement officials on national forest lands with no restrictions or
twlimitations. ‘ ‘

3) §ggg;g;_§ighggy_Ag§_Q§_1958 - Available for emergency road and bridge

ue7repairs when a disaster is declared. This is restricted to Federal roads;

States and counties can apply directly to the Department of ‘Transportation

p (nor) .

u) g;ggg_Qggt;g;_ggt_g§_1g§Q -— Available immediately to alleviate erosion
and protect water quality with no limitations or restrictions; however, the

=Q Soil Conservation Service will need to respond.

§mg§g§ggy_§g§g;§h§g_g;Q§gg§igg -— Available immediately to prevent erosion

\tnwhen the Secretary of Agriculture determines that it is necessary to

safeguard lives and property from flood and drought.

Fi§h_;=..e iee

P.L. 96-262, signed by the President on June 5, 1980, amends Section Q(b)

\;of the Commercial Fisheries Research and Development Act of 1964 (P.L.

88-309) to increase authorization to $5 million per fiscal year to assist a

fl State in which there has been a commercial fishery failure due to a resource

disaster caused by natural or undetermined causes. Honey can be made

cns-15 IB80066 iupnnrn-09/09/30

available in the form of grants to help restore the affected resource and
iishery. Funds have not been appropriated under this authorization since
FY70. Instead, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEBA) has advanced
funds to the National Harine Fisheries Service for disaster’ assistance in

fisheries with the provision that Mariner Fisheries request supplemental,

’5”appropriations to cover the disaster assistance and to reimburse wnnn $69 ;

fundsiadvanced-

§2e;;-§2§iee§§_A§uini§tre&i2e_1§§AL

1. P.L. 91-606 was authorized to revise and expand Federal programs for a

relief from the effects of major natural disasters. Those who suffer
f economic loss can apply to the SBA. $55,000 is available on home property
' losses, and $500,000 is available to businesses for loss due to closure or i

physical damage; Each loan can be amended to cover losses experienced with
each additional eruption.

I LEEISLAEIOE

H.R.i7u38 (Sebelius)

\i Establishes the Mount St. Helense National Honument in the State of ’
Washington. Introduced May 22, 1980; referred to Committee on Interior and
, Insular Affairs.     2

H53. 735“ (Beaver)

Hount Saint Helens Timber Salvage and. Market Stability Act of 1980.

winxpedites the recovery and rehabilitation of land in and around the Gifford
n,Pinchot National Forest. Introduced May 28, 1980. Hearing ‘held June 12,

1980, before the Forests subcommittee of the House Committee on Agriculture.
3.3. 75n2 (Whitten)

Supplemental appropriations for FY80. Includes iprovisions. for disaster
assistance to Ht. St. Helens. House approved a version on June 19, 1980,

f_authorizing $784 million. Bill referred to>Senate June 25, 1980, and amended

to increase the amount to $952,100,000.

” 232929206! 0? EvEn2§

06/18/80 - 06/26/80 - The casualty lis- uGvLQLCu 25 persons dead
and 45 missing. Although the immediate economic
damage proved less extensive than it first appeared,
the long—term picture looks discouraging. Several
national corporations have decided against proposed
plant construction and the wide national publicity
is having a negative effect on tourism in the area.

06/18/80 - pThe lava dome was 660 ft. in diameter and 280vft. high.
06/16/80 -- A small lava dome within theecrater was spotted; this

may indicate a less-highly explosive stage in the
volcanic sequence. «

06/12/80

05/26/80

05/25/80

05/23/39

05/21/80

05/18/80

005/10/80

05/08/80

05/00/80

0%/25/80

04/11/80

04/09/80

CBS-16 IB80066 UPDATE-09/09/80
Mt. St. Helens erupted for the third time, blowing

steam and ash 50,000 ft. into the sky. The U.S.

Forest Service issued an ash warning for the
Portland—vancouver area asking residents to remain

inside, but to wear masks if they needed to go out.

Scientists warned that the mountain could remain
volatile for months or years. Earthquake activity
continues. . —

Mt. St. Helens erupted for the second time in eight
days, engulfing southwest Washington State in an
8—mile-high stream of ash. At this point damage was
estimated to exceed 1.6 billion dollars.

President Carter visited the volcanic site; he commented
that the cost of the disaster is of such magnitude that
it will require a special appropriation by Congress.

The President and the Secretary of Agriculture will
extend, until June 30, wheat loans to Oregon, Washington,
Hontana, and Idaho that were due to expire may 31.

Governor Dixie Lee Ray declared Washington to be in a
state of emergency. water temperatures in the

Toutle and Cowlitz rivers killed many fish. Flash floods
and future eruptions threatened area residents.

at. St. Helens had a major eruption, bloing off the top
1300 ft. of the mountain, sending volcanic ash and

steam approximately 60,000 feet into the air. Six people
were reported killed and 29 were reported missing;
earthquakes registered north as far as Vancouver, Canada,
and south as far as Boseburg, Oregon.

at. St. Helens in the second stage of a volcanic eruption
blasted away the throat of the crater, and triggered
tremors, a sign which precedes a major fiery eruption.

The north flank of the mountain‘, continued to bulge at a
rate of ll to 5 feet daily.

at. St. Helens continued with moderate activity.
Scientists and geologists debated whether to continue

_funds for volcanic observations.

0.5. Geological Survey reported that the bulge on Mt.
St. Helens had grown 250 feet high; earthquake activity
was recorded. .

Lodgers returned to Mt. St. Helens area. Scientists
warned that lava eruption was still possible.

at. St. Helens was jolted by U earthquakes within four hours
registering from fl.0 to n.5 on the Richter scale.

03/31/80 --04/08/80 —- Dave Endicott, a University of Washington

geophysicist, noted an average of 75 earthquakes per
day equal to or greater than 3.0 Richter. Two newly

  

CBS-17 IB80066 UPDATE—09/09/80
formed craters became a single large crater attaining
an overall size of 1700 ft. across and 850 ft- deep.

A major eruption was anticipated; national guard and
State and local authorities patrolled tourists near the
volcano.» A

‘O3/28/80 —— A second explosion occurred at approximately 3:00 a.m.

By nid—afternoon, at least a dozen explosions
occurred as ash and steam began to drift eastward.

03/27/80 - A formal hazard alert was issued to State, local, and
Federal officials. At 12:36 p.m., Mt. St. Helens
erupted for the first time in 123 years, spewing steam
and ash about 10,000 ft. into the air.  Geological
forces continued to reshape the mountain as the
south side of the summit continued to crack and‘
expand. »

03/20/80 - The first significant earthquake in a swarm of quakes
that preceded the surface eruption, one week later,
was recorded at a magnitude of u.1 Richter.

03/18/80 - 0.5. Geological Survey geologists Dwight R. Crandell
and Donald R. nillineaux, after a decade of study,
reported that at. St. Helens is a dangerous volcano
likely to erupt within the next one hundred years,
perhaps before the turn of the century-

(iii .a.22I_1;92;I.-.I:.E.z§n.§n<.:1s.-§9y.s§§§

Crandall, D.R. and Donal Hullineaux. Potential hazards from
future eruptions of Mt. St. Helens Volcano. 1978.
Washington: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1383-C.

Eicher, George J. Jr., and George A. Rounsefell.p Effects of lake
fertilization by volcanic activity on abundance of salmon.
Limnology and Oceanography. 2(2): 70-76 (1957).

Gribbon, John. Forecasts, famines and freezes; climate and man's
future. New York, Walker and Company, 1976. 132 p.

Hughes, Patrick. American weather stories. Washington, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1976. 116 p.

Schneider, Stephen H. The Genesis strategy; climate and global
survival. New York, Plenum Press, 1976. 419 p.

Stonmel, Henry and Elizabeth. ‘The year without a summer.
' Scientific American, v. 200, no. 6, June 1979: 176*186.

fiarrick, Richard. A. Volcano hazard in the United States: research
assessment. monograph»#NSF-RA-E-75-012, Institute of
Behavioral Science University of Colorado, Boulder, 1975-

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