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Home My WebLink AboutREP PWIRC 037 01/08/2002 2000-2002 ti sio OFFICE INFORMATION ONLY Meeting: January 24, 2002 Action: Recommends the adoption of Committee on Public Works and intergovernmental Relations Report No. 37. (Res . 155-01 , Draft 3 was adopted) Re: Comm. • 449/Res. No. 155-01/PWIRC-a37 ti L � REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS & INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS DATE: January 8, 2002 RE: Communication No. 449/Resolution No. 155-01 PLACE: Counci_room TIME: 9:08 a.m. Chair and Members Hawai`i County Council Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 Your Committee on Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations,to which was referred Communication No. 449 and attached Resolution No. 155-01, reports as follows: Communication No. 449 dated December 10, 2001, is from Councilmember Julie Jacobson transmitting for the Council's review and consideration, Resolution No. 155-01, 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. Resolution No. 155-01 states that the United States Navy is requesting a Letter of Authorization from the National Marine Fisheries Service under the Marine Mammal Protection Act to facilitate its proposed use of SURTASS LFA in Hawaii. The Department of the Navy claims that this sonar program, which utilizes low frequency acoustic signals under ocean water, is needed in order to improve detection and defense capabilities in submarine warfare. However, both scientific and environmental communities virtually unanimously oppose the use of this sonar program because of its questionable national security benefits and the hazards it presents to marine mammals. The resolution resolves that the Council opposes this proposed sonar program and asks the Marine Fisheries Service to deny the Navy's request. At this meeting, committee members listened to and reviewed statements in support of Resolution 155-01. Key points for opposition to this pp program included possible negative effects on marine life and the uncertainty of whether or not the United States military is still in need of this type of sonar for defense. Similar statements were also received from both United States Representatives Neil Abercrombie and Patsy Mink. A complete listing of individuals who presented or submitted written testimony regarding this legislation is attached to this report. Following public statements,thorough discussion occurred between committee members about America's heightened sense of homeland security and defense, advances in technology and possible effects of such tests on marine animals. In addition, Council Vice Chair J. Curtis Tyler, III produced a document signed by all members of the Hawai'i County Council, dated March 18, 1998,addressed to the National Marine Fishery Service, expressing opposition to these tests until further scientific and conclusive information was available. Amendments to this resolution report as follows: 1. 3rd clause correction. WHEREAS, during deployment (employment),the proposed SURTASS LFA sonar system would introduce low-frequency acoustic signals into the world's oceans that could potentially affect marine life; and 2. 6th clause deleted and replaced with a new clause. 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 PWIRC-37 -2- January 8, 2002 3. New clause added preceding the eighth clause. WHEREAS,the Hawai`i 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 4. 1St resolve clause phrases added. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI`I 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 (can establish)that no harmful effects on the marine environment and life will result from the program. 5. 2nd resolve clause phrase added. 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. 6. New resolve clause added proceeding the final resolve. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council requests that the National Marine Fisheries Service conduct public hearings in East and West Hawai`i on the application for the proposed deployment of the sonar program. Your Committee on Public Works and Intergovernmental Relations is in accordance with the purpose and intent of Resolution No. 155-01, as amended to Draft 2, and recommends its adoption. ctd AYES NOES A&E EX Respectfully submitted ARAKAKI X COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS& CHUNG X INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS ELARIONOFF X JACOBSON X '� LEITHEAD-TODD X Leningrad Elarioff,''CHAIR { PISICCHIO X SAFARIK X PW&IRC REPORT NO. 3 7 TYLER X ADOPTED: AN 2 4 7nn7 YAGONG X 71 • • ATTACHMENT TO PWIRC REPORT NO. 37 - (Comm. 449/Resolution No. 155-01) Ron Devivo Leigh --via phone Karen Mcdaniel -- viap hone Joy Gardner -- via phone Bob Akamine -- Hilo, Hawaii Geradine Markus -- Hilo, Hawaii H. Iglehart Austen -- California Deane Oberste-Lehn - California Lanny Sinkin -- Hilo, Hawaii Noelle Delaquist -- (ASMS-Working Group for the Protection of Marine Mammals--Switzerland) Louise Korn -- Na'alehu, Hawaii Arista Victor -- Richmond, California Sharon Sue White, President, Greenpeace Foundation -- Kailua, ahu, Hawaii Mark L. Cohen, M.D., FAAP, Pediatrics -- Hilo, Hawaii Cheryl A. Magill, Coordinator, Stop LFAS Worldwide Network -- Santa Clara, California Isaac D. Harp, Kahea Board -- Honolulu, Hawaii Cory Harden -- Hilo, Hawaii Laure Dillion -- Honolulu, Hawaii Robby Labovitz -- Na'alehu, Hawaii John Derry -- Na'alehu, Hawaii 1i Lisa M. Choquette and Thomas E. Shockley, Owners, Dive Makai Waters Kailua-Kona, Hawaii Sigrid Luber, Schweizer Walschutz-Koalition (Swiss Coalition for the Protection of Whales ) -- Switzerland Barbara Birdsey --West Barnstable, Massachusetts Mark M. Giese -- Racine, Wisconsin Barbara A. Jarvis, Harmony Farms -- Kapa`a, Kauai, Hawaii Anneke Scott; Barbara M. McAuliffe; Tom McAuliffe -- Hilo, Hawaii Rev. Pomaikai`i Coulon -- Kailua-Kona, Hawaii Amy R. Fine -- Kailua-Kona, Hawaii Hallie Austen-Iglehart and Marcia Bauman, Ph.D., SeaFlow -- California Eden Peart -- Na'alehu, Hawaii U. S. Representative Patsy T. Mink - Washington, D.C. U. S. Representative Neil Abercrombie -- Washington, D.C. J L IND J t Attachment to PWIRC Report No. 37 - Page 2 Ira Rohter, State Co-Chair, Hawai`i Green Party -- Oahu, Hawaii Mare Grace -- Kamuela, Hawaii Aliaska Brozen -- (?) Jim Albertini --Kurtistown, Hawaii Sierra Club National Outings Members from Alabama, New Mexico, California, Washington, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin Hanalei Fergerstrom -- (?) Lisa Choquette, Dive Charters, Dive Makai Charters -- Kailua-Kona, Hawaii Andy Ridinger -- Maui, H•awai`i and Forth Worth, Texas Mark Giese -- Racine, Wisconsin Sheila Pattison -- Kona, Hawaii Deane Overste-Lehn, Ph D.-- Menlo Park, California Roy Legaard, Jr. -- North Carolina Steve Sipma -- Hawaii William Wilgus, The Public Access Network -- Silver Springs, Florida Judy Dalton, Executive Committee for the Kauai Group of the Sierra Club -- Kauai, Hawaii Barbara Warman, Executive Committee for the Kauai Group of the Sierra Club -- Kauai, Hawaii Jo Anne Johnson, Council Member --Maui,. Hawaii