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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Sherman Warner <br /> P.O. Box 1185 <br /> Kamuela, HI 96743 <br /> 885-1725 <br /> shermw@Hawai'iantel.net <br /> <br /> Testimony submitted 10/17/06 <br /> <br /> To: Hawai'i County Council Committee on Human Services and Economic Development <br /> In support of Resolution 432-06 OPPOSING THE COMMENCEMENT OF SERVICE <br /> OF THE HAWAI'l SUPERFERRY AT KAWAIHAE HARBOR UNTIL ECONOMIC, <br /> SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERENS ARE ADDRESSED. <br /> <br /> My remarks have little to do with opposing or supporting the Superferry; they are <br /> remarks in support of good planning. What we have now is the apparent absence of <br /> planning. With an EIS not currently mandated by the courts, it is astonishing to believe <br /> that out of all the areas of concern that an EIS would cover State officials appear to <br /> believe that none of those subjects deserve a level of study similar to that which occurs <br /> when an EIS is prepared. Because not having to prepare an EIS appears to mean to the <br /> State that it is relieved of the responsibility to assess the Superferry's impact on traffic, <br /> the environment, the whale sanctuary, marine resource depletion, introduction of alien <br /> species, impact on parks and other community assets which are already poorly <br /> maintained, and the potential influx of the homeless, I support the resolution which calls <br /> for an EIS. Without an obligation to prepare an EIS, I believe that Hawai'i Superferry <br /> and State officials will fail to assess the potential adverse effects of the superferry and <br /> inform the public of their findings. <br /> I live in Waimea and over the past two years I have attended many community meetings <br /> regarding the Superferry. These meetings have been marked by evasions and deceptive <br /> answers on the part of superferry officials and a dismissive attitude on the part of State <br /> officials toward local concerns. <br /> <br /> Allow me address a couple of my concerns, which are shared by virtually all of the <br /> people with whom I speak. <br /> <br /> Traffic <br /> For a long time, we were told that there would be no impact on local traffic resulting <br /> from the superferry's Kawaihae service. Superferry executive John Garibaldi frequently <br /> made the absurd argument that if 200 vehicles arrived on the Superferry and 200 left then <br /> there would be a net zero and therefore no impact on local traffic. Of course, the correct <br /> answer is that 400 cars would be added to local traffic. This is an absurd argument, but it <br /> is one that Garibaldi stuck with, and recently Terry O'Halloran of the Superferry has <br /> repeated it. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> 1 <br />