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Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd, <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> 25 Aupuni Street, <br /> Hilo 96720. <br /> Testimony on the expansion of industria~Facreage in Pepe'ekeo <br /> I am writing to oppose the proposed expansion of the industrial acreage in <br /> Pepe'ekeo. I am a faculty member at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and teach <br /> Occupational Safety and Health. My concern about the proposed expansion is based <br /> on several issues. While at the time the original lease was made to Brewer for the <br /> power plant, not as much was known on the delicacy of our oceans and the <br /> persistent effects that pollutants have on agriculture and people. <br /> <br /> The specific region of East Hawaii's coast that is being considered for industrial <br /> usage, is extremely close to the ocean. It seems exceptionally irresponsible to <br /> increase the amount of pollution that is already entering the ocean in this area. All <br /> industry pollutes, even If it doesn't exceed EPA standards (and clearly Brewer has a <br /> history of exceeding EPA standards) there is a certain amount of "allowable" <br /> pollution. When combined with the pollution that is already being produced I fear we <br /> could have serious repercussions in the surrounding marine environment. <br /> Hawaii is in large part defined by its environment. Local culture is closely entwined <br /> with the environment as well as tourism. In the vicinity of where the proposed <br /> expansion would take place, the coastline is far more accessible than most of East <br /> Hawaii. People, locals and tourists alike, are more likely to fish and swim in the area. <br /> Again, is this where we want to place industry? I believe it would be poor planning <br /> to expand the industry already there. <br /> Also, because of the beauty of the Hamakua coast, more people are moving to the <br /> region. The original power plant was designed to be far from people, but with the <br /> new housing developments that have sprouted up in the nearby vicinity and the <br /> planned subdivision immediately adjacent to the proposed expanded industrial area, <br /> that is no longer true. I suggest planners look for acreage far from housing and <br /> agriculture. I recently looked at the "Atlas of Hawaii" (Juvik &Juvik, 1998, p. 185) <br /> and besides Hilo and Kona, the Peepekeo area is one of the 3 most densely <br /> populated areas on the Big Island. There are a tremendous number of locations <br /> where industry could be located that are away from people and the ocean, so that <br /> when the allowable amount of pollution accumulates, or a mistake happens and large <br /> amounts of toxic substances spill, it is problem that can be solved, not a disaster <br /> that is irreversible. <br /> Thus for humanitarian, as well as environmental reasons, I strongly encourage you <br /> to take a cautious approach about where to locate future industry. Choose to <br /> position it a safe distance from heavily populated areas and our ocean. <br /> Dr. Dawna Coutant <br /> Psychology Dept. Comm. No. <br /> University of Hawaii at Hilo Fite No. Ptr <br /> Feb. 10, 2003 <br /> Re`. T~,:~ <br /> , , FEB 1 8 2003,_ <br /> <br />