Laserfiche WebLink
that area and so I’m aware of the water quality and all that, and since that time we did have the <br />ciguatera issue arise. And perhaps contributing to ciguatera and also contributing to stress on the <br />coral reefs are nutrients coming into the groundwater. Sort of the interplay with the nutrients <br />coming into the groundwater on the land which tend to form a growth of algae in the water, and <br />then the herbivore fish, especially the surgeon fish, tend to feed on those algae, so there is like a <br />little balance there. As long as the nutrients are not excessive and the algae growth is not out of <br />hand at all, then the herbivores cut it back and the whole system functions. And I think when the <br />original permit was granted, the sense was that that could continue to take place. We do have on <br />Maui near Maalaea real problems with algae growing. We have off Waikiki problems with algae <br />sort of taking over and harming the reef. <br />And so my concern at this point is, since 1977 we have like 30 years of experience with water <br />quality that has been monitored and all, but we don’t have that information before us here today. <br />Because Waikoloa is in fact a bay - it’s an embayment - so you don’t have the flushing of the <br />nutrients that you would have on an open ocean exposure. I feel like the nutrient problem could <br />be an issue, and the new golf course adding fertilizer, watering and all that, adding more <br />nutrients to the ground water could potentially be problematic. And so my concern is, you know, <br />I think there has been a lot of evidence accumulated since 1977 on water quality just in that area <br />through the monitoring programs and all. And so I feel like in my own capacity as a <br />Commissioner I’d like to know where we stand and what is the current condition of the ocean in <br />that regard before I say, well, it’s okay to do another golf course, add more nutrients, and that I <br />would still feel confident that exchange of algae growth from nutrients and grazing by the fishes <br />and other marine life can stay in balance; I don’t know that yet. So that’s my own personal <br />concern at this point; and if either of you like to make comment on that, I would be happy to <br />hear. <br />BAIL: Yeah, I would like to acknowledge your concern, and assure you that the <br />Department of Health does regulate water quality and has a whole system of regulation. The <br />way this has been addressed in the permit is to require in Condition 20 that the use of pesticides <br />and herbicides in conjunction with all phases of operation shall conform with the applicable <br />regulations of appropriate government agencies. So there has to be compliance not only with <br />laws applicable to the use of FIFRA and OSHArequirements for the use of pesticides, but also <br />with the Department of Health’s water quality standards. Also imposed under the original permit <br />was the requirement to comply with the Department of Health guidelines applicable to new golf <br />course development. And if the future is a concern, there is a general requirement in Paragraph <br />27 requiring compliance with all other applicable laws, including requirements of other <br />departments. So, were the Department of Health to revisit its policy on pesticide use and impose <br />a requirement, this provision of the permit would be applicable to that. So we do have an agency <br />overseeing this concern, which has been getting the monitoring results for a period of time. I’m <br />sorry I don’t have those monitoring results with me today and I cannot summarize them for you. <br />To my knowledge there is not a concern that has risen to date, but like I said I don’t have them <br />with me and I haven’t -, I’m not prepared to summarize the results of the water quality <br />monitoring that has already been done. My understanding is that it is to continue and be <br />ongoing, and the purpose of that is to address this very issue with concern of runoff and an <br />impact on the environment. <br />GRAHAM: Thank you. Mr. Yuen? <br />EXHIBIT C <br />7 <br /> <br />