HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0189.001 2004-2006 ~Y OF
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ROY T HIRAGA ~ JEFFREY T. KUWADA
County Clerk ` ' Deputy County Clerk
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OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF MAUI
200 SOUTH HIGH STREET
WAILUKU, HAWAII 96793
March 16, 2005
.
Honorable Gary Safarik,
Council Chair and Members
County of Hawaii -
25 Aupuni Street -
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Dear Chair and Members:
Transmitted herewith is a copy of Resolution No. 05-46, which was
adopted by the Council of the County of Maui, State of Hawaii, on
March 11, 2005.
Respectfully yours,
R ~T. HIRA A
County Clerk
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Enclosure
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Resolution
NO. 05-46
REQUESTING PREPARATION OF AN
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THE
PROPOSED STATEWIDE HAWAII SUPERFERRY
PROJECT
WHEREAS, the Hawaii Superterry, in association with Austal USA, is
proposing to provide non-stop, 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", and could transform the State and Maui, positively and/or negatively;
and
WHEREAS, this interisland transportation system plans to expand its
service by 2008 with the capability of transporting 1,732 people and 564 vehicles
daily to Kahului Harbor on Maui; and
WHEREAS, Hawaii 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 flying; and
WHEREAS, this system could expand our State's transportation
infrastructure and economy by possibly lowering the cost of travel and shipment
of goods and agricultural products; and
WHEREAS, although this service promises many benefits to Maui's
residents, it could also create or exacerbate existing problems for Maui's rural
environment; and
WHEREAS, Chapter 343 of Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS),
Environmental Impact Statements, requires the preparation of an Environmental
Assessment and/or Environmental Impact Statement for any proposed action
that utilizes State lands or State funds; and
WHEREAS, the National Environmental Policy Act requires an
Environmental Impact Statement for the use of Federal funds, including requests
for appropriations; and
Resolution No. 05-46
WHEREAS, State lands and State funds, including $40 million currently
being requested as a line-item appropriation in the State Harbors Administration
budget will be utilized for barges and ramps to facilitate loading and unloading of
passengers and vehicles on the Superferry, and
WHEREAS, $140 million of public funds from the Title XI Federal Maritime
Loan Guarantee Program is being utilized for financing of the Superferry system;
and
WHEREAS, the State Department of Transportation, Harbors Division,
has exempted the Hawaii Superferry from the required environmental review
pursuant to HRS Chapter 343 under Class 6 of its Comprehensive Exemption
list, which exempts "Construction or placement of minor structures accessory to
existing facilities'; and
WHEREAS, Section 8 of Class 6 further defines this exemption class as
"Alteration or addition of improvements with associated utilities, which are
incidental to existing harbor and boat ramp operations, in accordance with
master plans that have met the requirements of Chapter 343, Hawaii Revised
Statutes"; and
WHEREAS, the master plan for Kahului Harbor does not include plans for
a Statewide ferry system; therefore, it does not appear that the Class 6
exemption qualifies the Superferry for exemption from environmental impact
review; and
WHEREAS, no plans have been presented to mitigate the cumulative
impact to the harbor and its access roadways of the potential 564 cars exiting
and entering daily for transport on the Superferry, or for the potential 1,000-plus
cars arriving daily with departing travelers, many of whom will need a place to
park their car while traveling on the Superferry; and
WHEREAS, many other potential impacts have not been addressed or
mitigated with sound plans available for public review that provide a thorough
and methodical discussion of impacts and the identification and implementation
of ways to prevent or mitigate the negative impacts; and
WHEREAS, the Kauai County Council unanimously adopted Resolution
No. 2005-15, entitled "RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT AN
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT BE PREPARED ON THE HAWAII
SUPERFERRY", on January 26, 2005; and
Resolution No. 05-46
WHEREAS, it is not the Council's intention, in the absence of convincing
analysis, to stop or obstruct the Superferry; rather, it is the intention of the
Council to protect Maui's land and people from environmental and social
degradation by encouraging a proper planning and review process that would
prevent or mitigate the Superferry's potential negative impacts to an acceptable
level; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the County of Maui:
1. That it hereby requests the State Department of Transportation,
Harbors Division, to prepare a joint Federal/State Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) prior to commencement of the Hawaii
Superferry operation to identify and address potential adverse
impacts of this new interisland transportation service to Maui; and
2. That certified copies of this resolution be transmitted to the
Honorable Linda Lingle, Governor of the State of Hawaii;
John E. Cole, Executive Director, Division of Consumer Advocacy,
State Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; the State
Department of Transportation, Harbors Division; the State
Department of Agriculture, Quarantine Division; the Maui County
Delegation to the State Legislature; the Hawaii Delegation to the
United States Congress; the Honorable John McCain, United
States Senator; Don Reeser, Superintendent, Haleakala National
Park; the Hawaii County Council; the Honolulu City Council; the
Kauai County Council; the Honorable Mufi Hannemann, Mayor of
the City and County of Honolulu; the Honorable Harry Kim, Mayor
of the County of Hawaii; the Honorable Alan Arakawa, Mayor of the
County of Maui; Timothy W. Dick, Chairman, Hawaii Superferry;
John Garibaldi, CEO, Hawaii Superferry; Greg Metcalf, CEO,
Austal USA; the Hawaii Wildlife Fund; the Hawaiian Canoe Club;
the Kahului Harbor Coalition; Matson Navigation Company; the
Maui Invasive Species Committee; the Na Kai Ewalu Canoe Club;
Pacific Whale Foundation; the Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter; and
Young Brothers, Limited.
paf:dmr:05-056f
COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF MAUI
WAILUKU, HAWAII 96793
CERTIFICATION OF ADOPTION
It is HEREBY CERTIFIED that RESOLUTION NO. 05-46 was adopted by the
Council of the County of Maui, State of Hawaii, on the 11th day of March, 2005, by
the following vote:
G. Riki Robert Michelle Jo Anne Daln P. Dennis A Michael J. Joseph Oharmalne
MEMBERS HOKAMA CARROLL ANDERSON JOHNSON KANE MATEO MOLINA PONTANILLA TAVARES
Chair VlceChalr
ROLL CALL Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye
I
U Y CLERK