HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0212.468 1996-1998 r~ ` ' 73Pu'uhonuPlace
Hilo, HI 96720
7 ~ p~ ~ 1 August 28, 1997
The Honorable Dominic Yagong
Hawaii County Council CC~;~ i' ,
25 Aupuni St. CQU~VTY U;~~~ ~-IAWAI!
Hilo, HI 96720
Dear Councilman Yagong:
On May 20th, 1997, the Hawaii County Council passed Bi1162, now Ordinance 97-69,
appropriating $2 million for a post harvest treatment facility, i.e., an irradiation facility.
In response to community concerns about the safety of an irradiator operating on the Big
Island, Council members added several provisions to the bill. It now appears that these
amendments will not be implemented. Therefore, there will probably be no
environmental impact statement, no requirement for an emergency response plan to be
prepared in consultation with County Civil Defense, no prohibition against using
Cesium-137, no prohibition against building on Hawaiian Home Lands, and no
indemnification of the County in case of accidents or personal injury.
This is because these "safeguards," as specified in Section 3 of the bill, will only take
effect if the public funds appropriated under Ordinance 97-69 are used to construct the
irradiator. If the $2 million is used for promotion, crop development, or other purposes
permitted by the bill, and if private funds are used to build the facility none of the
amendments in Section 3 will be implemented
According to a conversation with Mr. John Masefield, President and CEO of Isomedix,
Inc., his company is planning on paying for the construction of the facility, thereby
bypassing all the requirements that would be triggered if county funds were used. The
County Council has an obligation to ensure that the citizens of Hawaii receive the same
protection regardless of who provides the money to build the facility. Nor is the Council
relieved of its obligation to extend that protection just because there is an ongoing
referendum and initiative petition drive that might prohibit construction of the irradiator.
Therefore, we request that the Hawaii County Council pass an ordinance stipulating that
any and all proposed irradiation facilities in the County of Hawaii meet, but not be
limited to, the requirements of Section 3, Paragraphs (C) through (I), of Ordinance 97-69
(Bill 62). To summarize briefly, these are:
• prohibition of construction on Hawaiian Home Lands or ceded lands
• requirement for an environmental impact statement according to Chapter 343, H.R.S.
• indemnification of the County from any liability, and the obligation of the contractor
to maintain an adequate liability insurance policy in case of injury or damage
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• limitation of the source material to cobalt-60 or electron beam
• prohibition against building the irradiator in a tsunami inundation zone
• consultation with the U.S. Geological Survey-Hawaii Volcanoes Observatory
• requirement of an emergency response plan prepared in consultation with the Hawaii
County Civil Defense and other emergency response agencies
The hazards of an irradiator remain the same, regardless of who pays for the
construction. Private funds should not exempt a company from public responsibility, nor
excuse the Council from its obligation to protect the citizens of Hawaii. We urge the
County Council to consider and pass this proposed ordinance as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Mar Cohen, M.D. Susan Gilbert, M.D.
Co-Chairs, Concerned Physicians of Hawaii