The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is awarding a $750,000 grant for the construction of a low-cost air pollution sensor network that will test for volcanic emissions on Hawaii island.

The EPA said Tuesday that Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientists will develop the network to track how Kilauea volcano’s emissions affect air quality.

Air quality near Kilauea can be poor because the volcano emits high levels of sulfur dioxide. Fine particulate matter mixes with the sulfur dioxide, making volcanic smog, or “vog.” The vog negatively affects human health and crops.

Recent technological advances have spurred the development of low-cost air pollution sensors, but the sensors haven’t been widely tested. The scientists will study the accuracy of data produced by sensors and explore how the data can be gathered and used by communities.

Human remains found in Puna spur investigation

Hawaii island police said Tuesday they have opened a missing-person case after human remains were found last month next to personal items belonging to a Canadian woman who had been reported missing on Oahu about 15 years ago.

Local hunters found a partial human skeleton July 18 in a remote shoreline area of Hawaiian Paradise Park in Puna, police said.

Officers located the remains off Beach Road on the Pahoa side of Makuu Drive and discovered personal items in the area belonging to Jessica Urbina, who would now be 37.

Urbina, of Montreal, was reported missing to the Honolulu Police Department in 2001. She had come to Hawaii on vacation in November 2000 when she was 21 and was described as 5-foot-1, 100 pounds with long black hair, brown eyes and fair skin.

Lt. Gregory Esteban said officers had to hike about 20 minutes makai of Beach Road to reach the remains in a shoreline area possibly within the high-tide zone. He said the remains were not buried.

The personal items contained old information, and there was evidence they had been exposed to the elements, he said.

He added that police have made contact with Urbina’s family.

Esteban said police have not identified the remains and do not know whether they are Urbina’s.

Police also opened a coroner’s inquest in connection with the remains.

Anyone with information to call Esteban at 961-2252 or email him at gregory.esteban@hawaiicounty.gov. Anonymous tips can be made to CrimeStoppers at 961-8300.