[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 18, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S5449]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 146--RECOGNIZING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ERUPTION 
                          OF MOUNT ST. HELENS

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

                              S. Res. 146

       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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