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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 438 Draft 02 2004-2006 vvw~ COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII •••,h~O~~M~+' RESOLUTION NO. 438 it6 Draft 2 A RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO SUPPORT TIGHTENED AGRICULTURAL INSPECTIONS FOR INCOMING CARGO AND PASSENGERS TO HAWAII WHEREAS, the continued invasion of alien species to Hawaii has resulted in millions of dollars in crop losses, the extinction of native species, the destruction of native forests, and the spread of disease, and has wreaked havoc on our local economy and quality of life; and WHEREAS, according to numerous agencies in Hawaii on invasive species control, a major influx of invasive species such as Miconia, Fountain Grass, Fireweed, Fruit Flies, Snowflake Coral, Alien Algae and the Coqui Frog, have attacked many native ecosystems in Hawaii and have threatened to endanger various Hawaiian native flowers, trees, plants, and animals to the point of near extinction; and WHEREAS, Congress has found that, tragically, Hawaii may be the undisputed endangered species capitol of the United States, based on statistics that reveal that Hawai`i's 255 listed plant species represent approximately one-fourth of the total number of endangered species in the U.S., of which more than one-fifrh of the entire Hawaiian flora are comprised; and WHEREAS, Congress' findings also indicate that in the past 200 years, more than 5,000 species ofnon-native plants and animals have become established in the Hawaiian Islands, representing a rate of successful colonization of a new species every 18 days, an astonishing contrast to the estimated rate of introduction through natural evolution of one species every 25,000 to 50,000 years; and WHEREAS, in a span of a few short months, the Gall Wasp has produced growth- stunting tumors on the leaves of the Wiliwili, eventually causing the defoliation of these trees on Oahu, Kauai, the Kona side of the Big Island, Maui, and more recently on Molokai, and is expected to continue its rapid spread even as efforts are made to curb its invasion; and WHEREAS, a member of Congress introduced H.R. 3468, known as the "Hawai`i Invasive Species Prevention Act", which states that "[i]t is the policy of the United States to fund and support coordinated and concerted programs and activities to control, interdict, and prevent the introduction or spread of invasive species and diseases in Hawai`i," and further directs the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Interior to implement "the establishment of a system of post-arrival quarantine protocols for all persons, baggage, cargo, containers, packing materials, and other items traveling or being shipped to Hawaii from domestic or foreign locations"; and WHEREAS, while current federal inspections protect the U.S. mainland from invasive species arriving from Hawaii, the Hawaiian Islands are not afforded the same protection from invasive species that arrive through visitor and cargo shipments to the State; and WHEREAS, the construction of the Invasive Species Interdiction Inspection Facility and complementary facilities at both the Hilo and Kona Airports, as requested by the State Department of Transportation, will be a gigantic step forward in increasing much needed protection against pests and diseases that arrive on the Big Island via air cargo; and WHEREAS, Hawaii continues to be particularly vulnerable to invasive alien species because of its position as an international transportation hub and its vulnerable native ecosystems; and WHEREAS, the mere introduction of even one new alien pest to Hawaii, such as the brown tree snake, the red imported fire ant, Africanized honey bees, or biting flies, could severely alter the economy and character of the Hawaiian Islands as we know them; and WHEREAS, it is imperative that Hawai`i's unique endemic species be preserved for the perpetuation of the Hawaiian culture and for the education of future generations. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII ,that the Council hereby supports the "Hawai`i Invasive Species Prevention Act" which directs the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Interior to implement "the establishment of a system ofpost-arrival quarantine protocols for all persons, baggage, cargo, containers, packing materials, and other items traveling or being shipped to Hawaii from domestic or foreign locations," and urges the U.S. Congress to pass H.R. 3468; and BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that certified copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Honorable Daniel K. Inouye, U.S. Senator; the Honorable Daniel K. Akaka, U.S. Senator; the Honorable Neil Abercrombie, U.S. Representative; the Honorable Ed Case, U.S. Representative; the Honorable Bob Goodlatte, Agriculture Committee Chair, U.S. House of Representatives; the Honorable Collin Peterson, Agriculture Committee, U.S. House of Representatives; the Honorable Richard Pombo, U.S. Representative; the Honorable Nick Rahall, U.S. 2 Representative; the Honorable Robert Bunda, Senate President, State of Hawaii; the Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say, Speaker of the House, State of Hawaii; the Honorable Linda Lingle, Governor, State of Hawaii; the Honorable Harry Kim, Mayor, County of Hawaii; the Honorable Mufi Hannemann, Mayor, City and County of Honolulu; the Honorable Bryan J. Baptiste, Mayor, County of Kauai; the Honorable Alan M. Arakawa, Mayor, County of Maui; the Honorable Donovan Dela Cruz, Chair, Honolulu City Council; the Honorable Bill "Kaipo" Asing, Chair, Kauai County Council; the Honorable G. Riki Hokama, Chair, Maui County Council; Mike Johann, Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture; Sandra Lee Kunimoto, Director, Hawaii State Department of Agriculture; Peter Young, Co-Chair, Hawaii Invasive Species Council; Teya Penniman, Manager, Maui Invasive Species Committee; and Lori Buchanon, Public Information Officer, Coordinating Group for Alien Pest Species. Dated at Kona ,Hawaii, this 20th day of September , 2006. INTRODUCED BY: ,f COUNCIL ME BER, COUNTY OF HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL ROLL CALL VOTE County of Hawaii Avt:s Noes ABS Ex H110, HaWal`1 ARAKAKI X HIGA X 1 hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by HOFFMANN the vote indicated [o the right hereof adopted by [he COUNCIL of the HOLSCHUH County ofHawai`ion September 20, 2006 X IKEDA ISBELL ATTEST: JACOBSON X PILAGO X ~~I~~ SAFARIK X Vf ~ 9 0 0 Reference: C-1034.2/PWIRC-51 COUNTY CLERK CHAIRMAN & PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. ~ (DRAFT 2) 3