[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 146 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 146

 Recognizing the 25th anniversary of the eruption of Mount St. Helens.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 18, 2005

  Ms. Cantwell (for herself, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Stevens, and Mr. Pryor) 
 submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the 25th anniversary of the eruption of Mount St. Helens.

Whereas, on May 18, 1980, at 8:32 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time, the volcano of 
        Mount St. Helens erupted, changing its elevation from 9,677 feet to 
        8,363 feet;
Whereas the eruption was triggered by an earthquake of magnitude 5.1 
        approximately 1 mile beneath the volcano;
Whereas the lateral blast covered an area approximately 230 square miles and 
        reached as far as 17 miles northwest of the crater;
Whereas the velocity of the blast was estimated to be at least 300 miles per 
        hour;
Whereas the pyroclastic flows covered 6 square miles, reached temperatures of 
        1,300 degrees Fahrenheit, and moved at speeds between 50 and 80 miles 
        per hour;
Whereas, as a result of the eruption, over 4,000,000,000 board-feet of timber 
        was blown down, which is enough material to build about 150,000 homes;
Whereas volcanic ash clouded the sky above eastern Washington, reached the east 
        coast of the United States in 3 days, and eventually circled the globe 
        in 15 days;
Whereas the eruption claimed the lives of 57 people; and
Whereas tens of thousands of animals perished: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the 25th Anniversary of the eruption of 
        Mount St. Helens on May 18, 2005;
            (2) acknowledges the importance of monitoring all 169 
        volcanoes in the United States and its territories;
            (3) recognizes the invaluable work of the Department of the 
        Interior, the United States Geological Survey, the United 
        States Forest Service, the Directorate of Emergency 
        Preparedness and Response of the Department of Homeland 
        Security, and the Cascade Volcano Observatory in monitoring the 
        activities of Mount St. Helens;
            (4) acknowledges the progress in science that has led to a 
        more comprehensive understanding of volcanology, seismology, 
        and plate tectonics, thus enhancing the ability to predict 
        volcanic activity and eruptions; and
            (5) supports monitoring volcanoes and helping to develop 
        emergency response plans to ensure that the people and 
        communities of the United States are safe.
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