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Front Lols-ellln Datla Datla Analyss al Hawaii CO,mN Coundl Pages ol5 Wetlnestlay, May O),199)P5232 PM to: CouncilmanJan QS Arakakl 5 the county had to subsidize throughput for a long time directly and indirectly, IF opportunity costs were high for falling to invest in research on non-irradiated post-harvest Treatments or in lower risk, higher benefit approaches To diversified, sustainable agriculture---and a fe~v other Ifs. Then a food irradiation facility would not be the great deal the majority of Council members think it is. A competent, thorough, independent analysis would identify these and other sources of benefits and costs, set upper and lower ranges for reasonable scenarios, and Tell us, among other things, in what year---19992 20012 20102 never2---benefits to Hawaii County are likely to be greater than our costs. Prudent decision-making would set up a panel of three knowledgeable persons ~vho support irradiation and three who oppose it to draft the specifications for a full, comprehensive, objective, independent cast/benefits analysis. Thls request for proposals would go to a qualified bidders Ilsi also identified by the panelists. The analysis would be conducted under the watchful eye of the County Department of R&D and the panel, To help assure The report would be credible, impartial, and Technically adequate. Such a study probably would cost behveen $50,000 and $75,000 and take about six months. A study done unilaterally by the County Department of R&D and or by anyone who stood to benefit from a decision To go or not go with the irradiator could take us no further than we are now, due to lack of the appearance of impartiality and objectivity. Hawaii needs sound approaches To diversified, sustainable agriculture. Our farmers and growers, who work very hard to make a living, deserve our fullest support and encouragement. The Major and the Council have The responsibility to work with the private sector to improve economic conditions, and should be lauded for any sound efforts to achieve this. However, ~nre don't need another WHOOPS here. Lois-ellin Datta is a former director of the U.S. General Accounting Office in the area of human services evaluation. She has consulted on evaluation with organizations including the World Bank, The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, and the National Cancer Institute.