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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 155 Draft 03 2000-2002 COZJN°I~ O~ A?.W~`I ~°`~T~ OF I~~~I`I RESOLUTION 1010. ~ G? (®raft 3) A RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA'S DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY'S PROPOSED DEPLOYMENT OF SURVEILLANCE TOWED ARRAY SENSOR SYSTEM LOW FREQUENCY ACTNE (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 integral part of Hawai`i's visitor-driven economy. 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 take marine mammals during the deployment of 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 xilo , Hawaii, this 24th day of January , 2002 . INTRODUCED BY: e ( ~t^?~ CO CIL MEMBER, OUNTY OF HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE County of Hawaii AYES NOES ABS EX H110, H3wa1`1 ARAKAKI X CHUNG X 1 hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by ELARIONOFF X The vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the JACOBSON X County of Hawaii on January 24 , 2002 LEITHEAD-TODD X PISICCHIO X ATTEST: SAFARIK X TYLER X ' ~ ~ YAGONG X ' Reference: C-449.52/P-Council ~ ~ o (Draft 3) C UNTY CLE ~-'CHAIRMAN & PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO.