REP HSEDC 006 10/17/2006 2004-2006

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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DATE: October 17, 2006 Re: Comm. No. 1026/Res. No. 432-06 PLACE: Council Chambers TIME: 2:15 p.m. Council Chair and Members Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Your Committee on Human Services and Economic Development, to which was referred Resolution No. 432-06 reports as follows: Resolution No. 432-06, transmitted by Council Member Pete Hoffmann, via Communication No. 1026, dated August 17, 2006, seeks Council support to oppose the commencement of service of the Hawaii Superferry (HSF) at Kawaihae Hazbor until economic, social and environmental concerns aze addressed. Eight members of the public provided testimony on this proposed resolution, three from the satellite office in Kona and five in the Council Chambers in Hilo. Seven of the eight testifiers provided testimony in strong support of this resolution. Their reasons included: 1. Deep concerns that the Whale population could face potential serious injury and fatalities due to collisions caused by the high speeds of the Superferry. 2. The Kawaihae Harbor, even prior to the earthquake of 10/15/06, was not in acceptable condition to handle the additional traffic Superferry would create. 3. Should the Superferry operation become defunct, a large amount of tax revenue would be lost completely. 4. Current protocols do not allow for sufficient time to perform adequate inspections, which could affect security, allow introduction of invasive species and promote criminal activity. 5. Visitors will want to utilize existing facilities that may already be overburdened. 6. County facilities that are utilized by visitors will require additional resources, which would be the burden of taxpaying residents. 7. State law requires an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for similar endeavors, why not this incidence? 8. There is no master plan to account for the impacts that Kawaihae Harbor and the surrounding area will endure. 9. Small businesses will suffer as cazgo and freight shipping will be delayed, reduced or eliminated in some instances due to the requirements placed on the Hazbor by the Superferry. 10. The public deserves the right to examine what all the potential impacts of the Superferry will be before they can make an educated assessment of its value. 11. Additional pollution that may be created by the Superferry.