HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0189.022 2004-2006 04/16/2605 15:06 3265697 KCO pq;,_ 31
Eoff, Karen
From: Duane Erway [dtle@hawaii.rr.comJ ~;.,,,1 ~i'~~ ~ :.~rl I
Sent: Montley. April 18, 2005 1:07 PM
To: Pilago, K. Angel; Hoffmann, Pete
SubJect: Hearing for Communication 189 (Res. 66;j~$)
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Aloha!!! Please copy and distribute to all Commfttee Members of the
planning C:nmmiHee for the 9:30 AM meeting Tuesday in the Council
Chambers
Aloho, Planning Council Membarcin
While my testimony focuses on Hawaiian Superferry (HSF)'s killing
them of marine mammals, I know this is only ONE of the many reasons - ~
why an EIS shoultl be tlone by HSF. HSF continues to hope that
technology will allow them to go 40 knots antl not come closer that
500 yards to any whales. How realistic is U~is?
While radar which HSF plans to use will detect whales on the surface
in calm seas, humpback whales spentl most of their time underwater.
Therefore HSF needs sonar. An expert responsible for saving the
right whale ray their is no way a commercial sonar, such as HSF has
committed to use, that can detect a whale in lime to avoitl striking
d from a fast moving ship. What works for any species is slowing
down in arcs where whales arc likely. Ap~arwntly even the NeVy has
bought into the National Oceanic antl Atmospheric Atlministratlon
recommendations to slow down after Navy ships killed four right
whdlcs, including two that wCrt pregnant, in January this year.
HSF's Terry White, in briefing the the Hawaiian Island Humpback whale
Nail Marine Sanctuary Advisory Committee un Jan. 20. 2005, said that
whales need to be spotted at 1,000 yards in order to avoid striking
them.
This is an impossible challenge forthe commercial sonarsucn as
FarSounder which operates at 180 dB. The Navy was only able to
reliably detect whores at this distance wdh their Hiqh Frequency
Marine Mammal Monitoring sonar, wRh 10,000 times more power Going
above ~ 80 dB could eMentl the range of FarSounder bat will expose
marine mammals to levels of sound that National Marino Fisheries
Service considers harassment.
An tIS that atltlreSSed this issued of sonar range and marine mammal
harassment would mitigate against whale deaths. Hawaii Superferry
speed needs to be limited corcesponding to the effective range of
their sonar, whatever it turns out to be. Please join Maul and pass
a resolution Calling for an EIS.
Mahalo.
Duane Envoy
PO Box 2807
Kailua-Kona, HI 96745
808.324-4824
Comm. No. 2Z.
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