2019-02-19 Letter to Sylvia Luke and Ty J.K. Cullen HB 421, HD2 Relating to the General Excise Tax

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February 19, 2019 Page 2 "In 2000, the National Environmental Policy Act, in conjunction with the National Parks Air Tour Management Act of 2000, required an Air Tour Management Plan to be implemented at various national parks throughout the country... The objective of an Air Tour Management Plan is "to develop acceptable and effective measures to mitigate or prevent the significant adverse impacts, if any, of commercial air tour operations upon the natural and cultural resources, visitor experiences and tribal lands...In 2005, the project was upgraded to an Environmental Impact Statement, and the Federal Aviation Administration published a notice of opportunity for commercial air tour operators granted interim operating authority to review and self -correct annual authorizations. In 2008, Federal Aviation Administration and National Park Service staff met with Hawaii air tour operators, and acoustic monitoring of three sites at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was conducted. In 2011, a preliminary draft Air Tour Management Plan for Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park was published, but...seven years later, in 2018, there [was] still no final Air Tour Management Pian for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park... In addition, after more than sixteen years, no Air Tour Management Plan for any national park in the nation has been completed..." How can our residents be asked to tolerate the status quo when it has been 15 years since the Federal Aviation Administration and National Park Service asked for comments on an Air Tour Management Plan Environmental Assessment, and eight years since a preliminary draft Air Tour Management Plan for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was published. That is an outrage. I would urge a No vote on HB 421, HD1 at least until the helicopter industry proves itself to be a better neighbor, it is established that "quiet technology" actually makes a difference, and this Legislature determines that the benefits to the broader community of this tax giveaway outweigh the benefits to the helicopter industry. Respectfully Submitted, Harry Ki MAYOR 1�= County of Hawai' i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.