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05/06/1997 00:12 8089668776 ROZETT'S NURSERY <br /> PAGE 01 <br /> ~ <br /> • a ~•~~.\?\1\\ <br /> ~facva~i ,Export JVursery Assacia~ion ` <br /> S/5/97 ~ <br /> '97 ~ifV 6 I?i~l 11 52 <br /> Councilman James Arakaki 1 ~1/ <br /> 25 Aupuni St. CO'~~J _ <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 COON I Y U; HAWAII <br /> Fax 969-3291 <br /> r 1~ f <br /> Dear Councilman, <br /> The H <br /> await Export Nursery Association wishes to express ow staunch ~ <br /> .`~1 <br /> support of the proposed Post-Harvest Treatracnt Project using Cobalt based t~`1 <br /> Irradiation Technology. In ow examination of the project proposal we arc confidrnt <br /> that the technology is sound, controllable and effective. Although immedia lioetjons <br /> for ow Industry are unknown, we look forward to developing procedures to out~ve _7 <br /> foliage products for foreign export. It is apparent that this process will alto airs ' ` i <br /> exotic produce to be shipped worldwide with minimal quarantine problems-;The a' ' <br /> arguments against this facility that we have encountered did not approach tfidissue~om a <br /> logical, factual basis but rather from an emotional one with unsubstantiated~tc~pag~pda. <br /> We feel it is critical that the Council consider only the verifiable and accw~ ;c(ata htt' 1 <br /> assessing the benefits to the Community. One must consider that the propoasnts o~uit <br /> fly eradication as an alternative have not acknowledged that <br /> l . The effort to eradicate has been ongoing in Hawaii for decades with substantial <br /> but only partial results. (Federal Quarantine has a ZERO tolerance policy) <br /> 2. Methods used in eradication such as aerial spraying of Malathion over <br /> residential neighborhoods (as in California) havc their Envirotunental <br /> Impacts as well. <br /> 3. The cost of a (possibly) total eradication program for Hawaii is currently <br /> deemed to be financially impractical. <br /> In short there is currently no other viable alternative treatment program that is <br /> available to process the broad range of products that are now grown or could be grown in <br /> the future. Statements made (a recent non-factual HTH full page ad) likening this <br /> technology to a Plutonium based Nuclear reactor are unfounded and call to question the <br /> credibility of the group sponsoring such propaganda. We recognize that the Council must <br /> often rule on controversial issues, and that this issue has generated substantial response <br /> both pro and con. We know that you must always weigh risk and gain. This is after all <br /> the challenge of progress. We feel that as you review the facts in this situation you will <br /> conclude as we have, that it is a safe, controllable and viable solution to maintaining <br /> Hawaii's Diversified Agricultural base, employing our farmers and contributing to a <br /> more secwe economic future.We implore you to support this measure wholeheartedly and <br /> approve the funding for this facility. <br /> Mahalo, <br /> coma. Dfo. t~s. L49 <br /> The d ofDirectors, await Export Nursery Association B71e 1'~0. FNO Ictf' <br /> I1ef. 'tbi Prasenred ~ <br /> lbf. A1~M7?Y <br /> 0 4 t~ ~ <br /> <br /> N.O. Box 11120 - liifo, Hawaii 96721 -Phone or Fax (808) 969-2088 ~ , <br /> <br />