HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 155 Draft 02 2000-2002 C®4J1o1 l i[`~ @~I~s.~~~ o~ 1 ~'~'0~1~~
RES®LUTI®N NO. ~ ~
(~raf~ 2)
A RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA'S DEPARTMENT OF THE
NAVY'S PROPOSED DEPLOYMENT OF SURVEILLANCE TOWED ARRAY SENSOR
SYSTEM LOW FREQUENCY ACTIVE (SURTASS LFA) SONAR
WHEREAS, the United States Navy is requesting a Letter of Authorization from the
National Marine Fisheries Service under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) in order
to facilitate its proposed Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System (SURTASS) Low Frequency
Active (LFA) sonar program; and
WHEREAS, the Navy states that the proposed SURTASS LFA sonar program would
meet the need for improved detection of foreign submarines, thereby providing the Navy with
adequate time to react to, and defend against, submarine warfare; and
WHEREAS, during deployment the proposed SURTASS LFA sonar system would
introduce low-frequency acoustic signals into the world's oceans that could potentially affect
marine life; and
WHEREAS, the protection of whales and other marine mammals is of great concern to
the citizenry of the County of Hawaii; and
WHEREAS, the protection and preservation of the ocean and the marine mammals that
inhabit the ocean are of great cultural and historical significance in Hawaii; and
WHEREAS, numerous scientific and environmental groups have proffered evidence that
the use of SURTASS LFA sonar may be linked to internal bleeding, disorientation and hearing
loss, resulting in whale deaths and strandings; and
WHEREAS, according to the Navy's own test results, certain low frequency sonar levels
may have harmful effects on humans who swim or dive in nearby waters; and
WHEREAS, the Hawaii County Council believes that there are other technologies
already deployed or soon to be deployed, that can perform the same function as SURTASS LFA
without the harmful side effects; and
WHEREAS, the protection of marine life in Hawai`i's waters is not just an ecological,
biological, or cultural concern, but also a matter of economic necessity because a healthy ocean
environment is an engine that drives Hawai`i's visitor-driven economy; and
WHEREAS, the County of Hawaii intends for this resolution to express its opposition to
the proposed deployment of the SURTASS LFA sonar.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF
HAWAII that it hereby opposes the United States Navy's proposed deployment of Surveillance
Towed Array Sensor System (SURTASS) Low Frequency Active (LFA) sonar program unless
and until scientific evidence clearly and independently establishes that no harmful effects on the
marine environment and life will result from the program.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council requests that the National Marine
Fisheries Service reject the United States of America Department of the Navy's application for a
Letter of Authorization to deploy the SURTASS LFA sonar unless and until it is established that
no harmful effects will result from such deployment.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council requests that the National Marine
Fisheries Service conduct public hearings in East and West Hawaii on the application for the
proposed deployment of the sonar program.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be transmitted to President
George W. Bush, Senator Daniel K. Akaka, Senator Daniel K. Inouye, Representative Neil
Abercrombie, Representative Patsy T. Mink, Governor Benjamin Cayetano, Mayor Harry Kim,
the Secretary of the Commerce, the Secretary of the Navy, the Secretary of Defense, and the
National Marine Fisheries Service.
Dated at , Hawaii, this day of , 200 .
INTRODUCED BY:
ffi
C CIL MEMBE ,COUNTY OF HAWAII
COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL vOTE
County of I-Iawai`i AYES NOES ABS EX
H110, Hawai`1 ARAKAKI
CHUNG
1 hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by ELARIONOFF
The vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the JACOBSON
County of Hawaii on
LEITHEAD-TODD
PISICCHIO
ATTEST: SAFARIK
TYLER
YAGONG
Reference: C- 4 4 9.4 0/ P-Pt~,l& IRC
COUNTY CLERK CHAIRMAN & PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. ~ ~ (Draft 2)