2007-03-16 TWAIKOLOADEVCO - Laserfiche WebLink

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concentrations may lead to algal blooms in West Hawaii, which may be comprised of exotic and/or harmful species. In Maui county frequent exotic algal blooms from elevated nutrients in coast waters have resulted in a loss of millions of dollars annually from potential revenue in property values and in income from hotel and rental properties; this is according to the West Maui Watershed Management Advisory Committee. With regard to the deep injection wells, studies were done in Maui, and it turns out that these deep injection wells are part of the problem. When the wastewater is injected down, its injected into a salt water environment. Fresh water is less dense, so it rises. And what they are finding is that the fresh water containing the treated sewage is rising up to the fresh water lens and then going out off-shore, as the fresh water lens does here in West Hawaii. I believe that Ive pretty much covered everything that I wanted to. I just would like to say that I think its inappropriate to issue an extension of time for the construction of this golf course becausethedevelopmentinWaikoloahashadasignificantenvironmentalimpact,andadding this additional golf course will only be adding to the problem; it will not be a mitigative measure. We here in this county face a serious problem. This study found that we are on the verge of a serious environmental disaster in our near shore waters, and these are supposed to be Class AA pristine coral reef environments. So if we dont start taking action now to deal with this problem -. You know, this Planning Commission is a -, you are the last discretionary approval. And so once you grant an approval here, its all ministerial and starts going through all the administrative processes. So this is the last chance that we have here in this particular time to take a stand and start saying, no; and you need to start changing the way that things are being done here because this environment in Hawaii is being harmed and significantly so. Thank you. GRAHAM:Do we have any questions for the testifier from the Commissioners? Commissioner Siracusa? SIRACUSA:Yes. Youve seen where Mr. Yuen has a point on the last page of his letter that by having a second golf course that would spread the sewage out over a wider area and therefore effectively decreasing the relative concentration, distributed throughout the resort. And youve heard Commissioner Grahams comments on it that that seemed reasonable to him. To me, it seems the opposite of reasonable; I think of the old saying about, you know, when people throw pollution into the ocean, the solution to pollution is dilution. And Ive always felt, well, but you are putting the same amount of pollution into the water, even if you are diluting it with more. So in this case, we are looking at the same amount of sewage over a larger area, but possibly even more as the resort develops and sewage is increased, and possibly the treatment plant might reach a certain capacity or limits in processing capabilities. I wonder if you would comment on whether you agree with them or me or who or what. FLAHERTY:Thank you for the question -. GRAHAM:Mr. Flaherty, go ahead. FLAHERTY:Thank you very much. With regard to that, I think its very simple. The terrain that this golf course is being built on is a low nutrient, low moisture environment, and its going to be formed into a high nutrient, high moisture environment. And that is going to flow down into the fresh water lens, and its going to make its way out into the ocean. As the 12EXHIBIT B