|
FUKE: I do.
<br />NANCE: Yes.
<br />CLARKSON: Whoever is going to go first, please introduce yourself and proceed.
<br />FUKE: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. For the record, my name is Sidney Fuke. I'm a
<br />planning consultant, and I've been assisting the Applicant with the processing of this request. To
<br />my right is Tom Nance, and he was retained by the Applicant to assist with the, providing the
<br />technical support regarding the hydrological information associated with the project, so he'll be
<br />able to testify to some of the questions or some of the comments that were made in the report as
<br />well as any other public comments relating to the potential source and the impact of the project.
<br />The staff's report is as always like very comprehensive. We've had a chance to review the
<br />staff's proposed recommendations with the owner, and the owner is receptive to all of those
<br />conditions.
<br />In summary, what I'd like to kind of indicate before turning it over to Mr. Nance is that the
<br />reason why there's like multiple processing is that the original project as envisioned by Suisan
<br />then was to do like a fish processing distribution center in that particular area, but obviously as
<br />the staff pointed out, you know, that concept was abandoned and so now the Applicant, the
<br />Applicant now wants to do a water well in that area which is consistent with the existing zoning,
<br />Industrial zoning. But, nevertheless, the time expired, and so there is a need for the time
<br />extension. Associated with Suisan's original plan, they had an SMA permit issued. So, that had
<br />to be revoked to be able to now have a new permit, you know, a new SMA permit for that.
<br />Essentially what the Applicant, based upon information that was provided by its consultant and
<br />other information that it had access to, felt that this site would be suitable for a water well. And,
<br />so, that's the whole plan. So, if successful, then it would be a maximum of 200,000 gallons per
<br />day that would be drawn out, harvested from the ground, and then bottled. At the end of the day,
<br />the cost would probably be like 2-1/2 to 3 million dollars and would probably employ about six
<br />to eight at the most individuals. Notwithstanding the action taken by this Commission and
<br />ultimately, hopefully, it's favorable, as well as by the County Council for the time extension,
<br />before they can actually have that bottling facility up and running, they still need to get a well
<br />drilling permit from the State Water Commission and that gives them the authorization to drill.
<br />And, if the water, if the quality and the quantity of the water proves to be, you know, positive,
<br />then to convert that into a potable drinking well, they still need to get the approval of the State
<br />Department of Health to have a certified—as a drinking facility, drinking well.
<br />You know, when they had approached me, I, you know born and raised on this island and lived
<br />almost all my life here in Hilo, so I'm kind of familiar, you know, with that property and I was
<br />aware like at the, you know, there were like the Canec processing used to, you know, plant used
<br />to be which is really on the corner of Kekuanao`a and Mililani Street which is maybe about like a
<br />quarter of a mile on the Puna side of this area.
<br />EXHIBIT B
<br />5
<br />
|