The Trump administration is in the process of closing at least two federal buildings used to monitor volcanoes in Alaska and Hawaii. The scientists and equipment in these offices provide critical information about possible eruptions, as well as the release of ash that could interrupt aviation.
The government currently monitors dozens of active volcanoes near population centers, including Mount Spurr near Anchorage, Alaska, and the most active volcano in the world, Kilauea, on the island of Hawaii. Hundreds of thousands of people live near these two volcanoes alone. Without the observatories in place, scientists would be unable to do the work that leads to early warnings for evacuations or for changes to air travel.
NOTUS confirmed that the General Services Administration sent notice of its plans to terminate the lease for the building that houses much of the Alaska observatory’s equipment and staff in Anchorage, and for a building in Hilo, Hawaii, that houses at least some staff and equipment. Both the Hawaii and Alaska observatories are run by the United States Geological Survey.