RES 412 Draft 01 2008-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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M , COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII 7r F•p4 RESOLUTION NO. 412 10 A RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO INITIATE NEIGHBOR ISLAND PUBLIC HEARINGS REGARDING APPROVAL OF PASHA HAWAII TRANSPORT LINES AS A HAWAII WATER CARRIER. WHEREAS, Hawai`i Island has committed to the preservation of agriculture; and WHEREAS, a healthy agricultural economy requires a viable market opportunity; and WHEREAS, in order for that dynamic to exist, interisland shipping of product and materials is essential; and WHEREAS, the economy of the neighbor islands depends heavily on regular and reliable barge service; and WHEREAS, the Public Utilities Commission has issued an Interim Decision and Order authorizing Pasha Hawai`i Transport Lines to operate its cargo carriers and provide limited types of cargo services to limited ports, at a service rate of once every two weeks on an interim basis through December 2013; and WHEREAS, Young Brothers currently maintains complete and frequent interisland routing; and WHEREAS, allowing an additional shipping service provider to compete in only the most profitable areas with the established service provided by Young Brothers, without a complementary requirement to service less profitable areas, dilutes the viability of Young Brothers' continued service due to fragmentation of the consumer market; and WHEREAS, State Legislators, members of the public, and Young Brothers all called upon the Public Utilities Commission to hold both public hearings and evidentiary hearings; and WHEREAS, the Public Utilities Commission chose not to hold hearings on neighbor islands to discuss the matter; and WHEREAS, the Public Utilities Commission maintains the power to terminate Pasha Hawai`i Transport Lines' authority to operate during the interim period if it is determined that the intrastate service causes undue harm to existing intrastate shipping services or the public interest; now, therefore,