HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0730.000 1996-1998 1~/"'t
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February 12, 1998
Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Dear Members of the Hawaii County Council:
Today's Hawaii Tribune-Herald has quoted the National Weather
Service's forecast that we can expect no relief from this terrible
drought until at least mid-summer. Under the circumstances, it
behooves us to be more pro-active than usual in seekinq ways to
mitigate both the direct and the indirect problems that this will
create, and is already creating.
What little moisture we now have is being held in the air and
the ground by trees, especially groups of trees as in groves and
forests. Any bulldozing or grubbing during this drought will expose
more soil to drying sun and wind, and increase the risk of forest
and other wildfires. Furthermore, such clearing will create more
dusty conditions which will be subject to wind-borne erosion, and
worsen our air quality when combined with the vog.
I therefore suggest that the Council look into the possibility
of declaring a moratorium on grubbing, bulldozing and other major
land clearing operations in the public interest for the remainder of
this drought. Since the law already allows restrictions on oven fires
and water use in such emergency circumstances, I am sure that there
would be no legal problem in extending such restrictions to these
activities. Naturally, the dozing of firebreaks should not be included
in these restrictions. I hope that the Council will decide to instruct
the Department of Public Works to hold off on the approval of anv such
permits.
mah~al-o~a`nd aloha aina,
i4-v+VT/ ~.t%2G~w~ °`~Cowrn. Dia, 7'3~
Rene Siracusa, President~~~'Qo wA.z.
cc: Harry Kim
Civil Defense Administrator fCc,f. Tu: ~W~
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