HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 068 Draft 01 2004-2006 ~iY ar M
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COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII
RESOLUTION NO. 68 U5
RESOLUTION RGQUEST[NG'fHT: PRF,PARATION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
STATEMENT FOR THE PROPOSED S"fATF.WIDE HAWAII SUPERFERRY PROJECT
WHEREAS, the Hawaii Superferry, in association with Austal USA, is proposing to provide
roundtrip ferry services daily between the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, Maui and Oahu, commencing in
2007; and
WHEREAS, this service will provide Hawaii with the world's newest and largest passenger
vehicle catamaran, connecting the islands with a new "H4 highway" which could transform our
communities, positively and/or negatively; and
WHEREAS, IIawai`i Superferry intends to provide an efficient, environmentally friendly,
state-of-the-art ferry service for passengers and vehicles between the islands at approximately half the
price of hying; and
WHEREAS, this system could expand the transportation infrastructure and economy by
lowering the cost of travel and shipment of goods and agricultural products; and
WHEREAS, this Council supports the Superferry project in order to bring us closer to
families, friends and events on other islands; and
WHEREAS, over forty million dollars of public funds are being used to facilitate the
development of the Superferry; and
WHEREAS, chapter 343 of Hawaii Revised Statutes requires the preparation of an
environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement for actions that propose to use state
funds or state lands prior to decision-making; and
WHEREAS, the public utilities commission rendered its decision on the Superferry without
the benefit of an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement; and
WHEREAS, the state department of transportation has exempted the Hawaii Superferry from
the required enviornmental review; and
WHEREAS, the Hawaii administrative rule §11-200-8 provides that all exemptions are
inapplicable when the cumulative impact of planned successive actions in the same place, over time, is
signitcant, or when an action that is normally insignificant in its impact on the environment may be
significant in a particularly sensitive environment; and
WHERF,AS, the Superferry project may affect not only marine life, but also infrastructure on
land, including highway and harbor capacity; and
WHERF,AS, an environmental impact statement would help the County and the State plan to
address issues such as restroom facilities and parking at Kawaihae, road capacity coming to and
leaving Kawaihae, and the spread of invasive alien species; and
WHEREAS, an environmental impact statement also addresses economic issues; and
WHEREAS, an environmental impact statement can discuss the experience of'similar projects
in other locations; and
WHEREAS, a similar superferry running between Toronto, Ontario and Rochester, New York
ran for only eighty days until crippling debt forced it into a foreclosure sale; and
WHERF,AS, it is not the Council's intent to delay or stop the superferry, but rather to ensure
that all the possible impacts of the superferry are addressed prior to its arrival in order to protect
Hawaii's people and its environment; and
WHEREAS, the Lingle administration has championed the principle of deference to home
rule; and
WHEREAS, the counties of Maui and Kauai have called for an environmental impact
statement on the superferry project.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THF, COUNTY OF
HAWAII that the County Council requests that the State department of transportation prepare an
environmental impact statement prior to the commencement of the Hawaii superferry operation.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be transmitted by the County
Clerk to the Honorable Linda Lingle, the department of transportation, the Congressional delegation,
the Speaker of the State House and the President of the State Senate; and the County Councils of
Honolulu, Kauai and Oahu.
Dated at _ _ ,Hawaii this _ day of , 2005.
roduc by:
CO IL MEM
COUNTY COiJNCIL ROLL CALL vOTE _
County of Hawaii Ayes Nols AHS ex
Hilo, Ilawal `l ARAKAKI
HIGA
I hereby certily that the foregoing Rf:SOI,U"PION was by HOPEMANN
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of tlic HOLSCHUH
County of Hawei'i on
IKEDA
IS(3EI,L
ATTEST: IACOI3tiON
PILAGO
SArARIK
Reference: C-189/PC
COUNTY CLERK CHAIRMAN & PRESIDING OFPICI;R RESOLUPION NO. ~8 ~5 _