HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1026.006 2004-2006
IN SUPPORT OF RESOLUTION 432-06--EIS FOR SUPERFERRY
Committee on Human Services and Economic Development
Tuesday, October 17, 2006, 1:45 PM, Ben Franklin Building - •r 1 1
Cory Harden, Box 10265, Hilo, Hawai'i 96721 mhOinteroac.net''
Superferry is risking the people's money, but not really answering the people's, questions.
About 177 million taxpayer dollars may go to Superferry--about 137million Federal dollars to
back up a loan, about 40 million State dollars for landing barges. But what about our questions?
Questions like--
Why is there a report of more whale strandings with signs of collision in the Canary Islands
after fast ferries started?
• Will Superferry go belly up like two similar ferries in Canada, leaving taxpayers holding the
bag for that $137 million loan?
• Is the one minute allowed for inspections enough to check a car for bombs, weapons, drugs,
stolen goods, coqui frogs, and more?
• Will depleted uranium be transported? With what safety measures?
• What will happen to freight operations?
• If a trip is cancelled, where will 866 stranded passengers and 282 cars go?
• Will visitors over-burden beaches and fisheries?
• How high will fares go?
The people have tried to get answers. This Council, Maui, and Kauai already called for an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS.) Three groups filed a lawsuit calling for an EIS.
Pete Hoffman knocked on 2000 doors and found nothing but people against Superferry because
their questions were not answered. Kauai organizers got 6000 people to sign a petition
demanding an EIS. They said they hand-carried it to Governor Lingle, but she refused to meet
with them.
Superferry says they're answering all the questions. But do they have the expertise, and the
incentive, to fully address our concerns? And who will see that all promises are kept?
Serious questions have come to light only because citizens have stepped up to the plate.
But do lay people have the resources and expertise to unearth all possible problems and develop
the best solutions?
Superferry says the delay of an EIS will make investors drop out. Will a delay turn Superferry
into a bad investment? Especially if that delay produces an EIS proving Superferry will not harm
the environment?
In short, are we putting $177 million into better transportation--or an environmental and financial
disaster?
The people are asking a question that only an EIS can answer.
Comm. No. OZ~G•
Ref. To:PresMt
Ref. Date, OCT 17 2006
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Copy of e-mail--sent by Nick Tregenza to Lee Tepley
Photos of injured whale and severed head--sent by NT to LT
LT says NT is a whale researcher in the Canary Islands
Dear Lee,
The arguments advanced are very flawed.
I understand that in the Canaries the operators realised that the vessels withstood
collisions very well and no longer stop if they feel a bump.??? When smaller fast vessels
were first in use one collision slowed the boat so much that some passengers fell over and
one person - a local politician - died.
The idea that aluminium is too soft/weak is absurd - it's strong enough for the wings and
undercarriage of large passenger aircraft
There are dramatic photos from the Canaries of whales with injuries that can only have
come from fast vessels, and they should explain what else might have caused them.? See
attached.
Cetacean studies in the Canaries were actually active well before the ferries arrived, but, as
elsewhere, involved a lot of voluntary effort.
best
Nick
C's
Sent; MonBBC REPORT :r,~a?eo Swa clay, 9 April200tt,
http://nevvs.bbc.cojai)anese ferry runs into 'whale' .uk/2/hilasia-pacific/4893370.stm
Japanese fern runs into '\N hale'
JAPAN
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Kyushu
1 Island
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?Kagoshira ---~i I
A hi„+h-speed Japanese fern has collided R ith what is thought to be a vv'hale, leaning 49 people
injured - 13 in a serious conilition.
The tiro-deck fern. cam Inc more than Itnt passengers and crew, vcas near the chN of Kagoshima on the
southcru island of K•, usltu khan it happened.
the Coast Guard said it rocai~ cd a distress call from the boat sliorth~ after 1800 local time (0900 GMT).
>Iiips in the area often collide v ith M hu}cs. a fern companc spokesman said.
Soon o1 the most serious)} 7mmed passengers hax c been taken back to land b4 rescue boat. a coast guard
vlficial said
Hc said the other passengers remained on the Fern. Much teas not in danger of sinking.
Pent spokesman I ukinon Chosa said the impact caused mariv people to fall over and hit their backs.
T he Fart} is note uuabic to mov c on its om a and i~ ill hav e to be toiNed back to port. he told the APP nevus
acenc~.
Hl ge sea animal.
a,
Rescue workers earn ()ill an injured passenger from the Toppy-4 ferry (behind R) at
Yamakassa port in fbusuki. southern Japan :aptil 9, 2006. The ferry, with 109 passengers
and crew members aboard. collided with an unidentified object. possibly a whale, in waters
Off Kagoshima Prefecture on Sundases etun_. leaving 49 passengers injured, 13 of them
SCriously_ local media reported KWdo
Japanese ferry strikes obiect perhaps a whale; 93 aboard hurt
Knight RAder Nev s Service Article Last Updated: 0 3/1 1/2006
httP'llrttitw ~Itrita.rnrntnatimm'orld/ci 3696726
KAGOSHIMA. Japan - More than 90 people were injured when a hydrofoil hit an
unidentified marine object off Cape Sata on Sunday, a Japan Coast Guard spokesman said.
According to the 10th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters in Kagoshima. 88 of
the 109 passengers and five of the six crew members on the high-speed ferry Toppy
4 were hurt Ofthose. 12 were seriously injured Thirty-six, including some crew
members, were hospitalized.
Coast Guard officials started Monday morning inspecting the water around the accident
site and are expected to question Koichi Akase, the ferry's captain, who was hospitalized.
According= to a spokesman at Kagoshima Shosen, which operates the ferry. Toppy was
cruising near its maximum speed of 50 mph at the time of the accident.
"Something hit the hydrofoil's port stern quarter, and the boat plunged forward," Al<ase
was quoted by the spokesman as saying. "There was no driftwood in sight, so I think
it's highly likely that Toppy hit some kind of marine creature like a whale."
The coast guard dispatched six patrol vessels and two helicopters after it received an
emergency call from a passenger on board Toppy at about 6 p.m. Sunday. The 12
seriously injured people and infants were transferred from the ferry to two patrol boats.
The two boats arrived in Ibusuki by 9:50 that evening.
The patrol ship Sendai towed Toppy, which was unable to continue under its own power,
and the remaining 85 passengers on board reached Yamagawa Port in lbusuki at 11:30
p. m.
Four Toppy ferries piv the route that connects Kagoshima, Tanegashima island and
Yakushima island 13 times daily. Kagoshima Shosen began operating the service in 1989.
The ferry has a hydrofoil at its bow and stern that lift the boat's hull above the surface of
the water. Though the bolt is equipped with an underwater speaker that emits a
sound whales are supposed to dislike it is not effective against all kinds of whales.
[emphasis added]