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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 154 Draft 01 1994-1996COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII RESOLUTION N0. 1SA ~ (DRAFT 3) RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HONIiRABLE GOVERNOR BENJAMIN CAYETANO TO EXERCISE HIS OPTION TO REMOVE THE WATERS SURROUNDING HAWAII COUNTY FROM THE PROPOSED HAWAIIAN ISLANDS HUMPBACK WHALE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY WHEREAS, the Draft Environmental Impact Statement Management Plan for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, hereinafter called "the Sanctuary," proposes to expand the Sanctuary boundaries to include all the waters surrounding the county and the island of Hawaii; and WHEREAS, neither the initial establishment of this sanctuary nor the expansion of its boundaries to include Hawaii island waters was requested by Hawaii County's ocean community and substantial public opposition to such proposed Sanctuary expansion was voiced at public scoping meetings held in Hawaii County; and WHEREAS, there aze significant concerns being expressed by a lazge segment of our community that support protection of the Humpback whale, but do not agree that the sanctuary, or its proposed expansion, are the best mechanism to achieve these goals; and WHEREAS, the Sanctuary, as it exists and as it is proposed to be expanded, appears to be a needless replication of existing federal and state regulations and programs, including the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act; and WHEREAS, the Council is gravely concerned that once the expanded Sanctuary is established as a program, unavoidable management, accountability and reporting requirements will be developed and will prove to be a serious financial and regulatory burden to marine-oriented residents in general and the critically important ocean recreation industry of Hawaii County in particular; and WHEREAS, the potential "user fees" and/or special use permits likely to be required of Hawaii County residents in order to fund the federal program expenses would unjustly place a heavy, disproportionate burden of federal program costs onto our local population; and WHEREAS, the proposed Sanctuary undermines and deflects escalating state concern, amidst scarce funding, for comprehensive protection of Hawaii's unique marine ecosystem which comprises a wide range of pelagic and near shore plant, animal and water quality elements; and WHEREAS, the responsibilities For management, protection and conservation of Hawaii's unique and once bountiful marine ecosystem require increased, focused attention and care by state authorities, not the reduced attention and care which could result from the as yet unknown mandates and constraints of an unneeded federal sanctuary program focused on a recovering animal population; and WHEREAS, the Council thus finds that the expansion of the Sanctuary boundary, without limitation as to focus and purpose, would result in deflection of scarce funding and management attention and would have a direct negative impact upon our vital ocean industries; and WHEREAS, in 1988 the Legislature of the State of Hawaii recognized an urgent need for statewide management of our ocean and coastal resources and established, under Chapter 228, Hawaii Revised Statutes, a program for comprehensive and integrated management of the State's ocean resources including the development of the "Hawaii Ocean Resources Management Plan" to address overall ocean resources management, conservation and preservation, fisheries, and related ocean and coastal concerns; and WHEREAS, the "Hawaii Ocean Resources Management Plan" was adopted by concurrent resolution of the State legislature in 1994, but little administrative action has yet resulted from the adopted Plan, causing this critically important management program to languish largely unimplemented. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that it requests that The Honorable Benjamin Cayetano, Governor, exercise his option to remove the waters surrounding Hawaii County from the proposed Sanctuary boundaries. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii County Council hereby urges Governor Cayetano to remove all State waters from the Sanctuary. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii County Council further urges the Honorable Governor Cayetano and the Legislature of the State of Hawaii to implement the "Hawaii Ocean Resources Management Plan", and thereby enable a proactive, community-based ecosystem management regime that will have a positive, valuable, long-term impact on all marine life and resources comprising Hawaii's ocean environment. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council supports the purpose, objective and continued application of the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council supports greater communication and grass roots involvement in the protection of our marine ecosystems. 2 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council would not support any effort that may result in additional restrictions, user fees, or any other impediments on the use of our coastal waters by the federal government. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the County of Hawaii transmit a true copy of this resolution to the Honorable Benjamin Cayetano, Governor; and copies to the Honorable Norman Mizuguchi, President of the Senate, and the Honorable Joseph Souki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectfully, of the Legislature of the State of Hawaii; Gregory Pai, Director, Office of State Planning; and R. Michael Laurs, Director, U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Dated at Hilo, Hawaii this 4th day of October 1995. INTRODUCED BY: OUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII COL Co I hereby certify that the fc vote indicated to the right the County of Hawaii on `~~-',~ ' R ~- OLL CAL L VOTE fhrI Y COUNCIL unty of Hawaii AYES NOES ABS EX iilo, Hawau Arakaki X Bonk-Abramson X regoing RESOLUTION was by the ~"id' X hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of ~ Lmia X October 4 1995 Domingo }{ , Osorio X / Rath }{ ~ ~ ' ~f~ ~ / ~Y X - ~L ctiG ~G ` ° 1'l Smith X 8 1 0 0 Reference C-587/PC-78 COUNTY CLERK CHAIRMAN & PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. IS6! 9S ~ DRAFT 3 )