HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 348 Draft 01 1994-1996COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII
RESOLUTION N0. 348 96
A RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE STORAGE OF NUCLEAR WASTE IN THE PACIFIC
WHEREAS, Congress has proposed a bill that would license the private owners of the
Palmyra Atoll to store over 200,000 metric tons of nucleaz waste on that atoll; and
WHEREAS, the Palmyra Atoll is located approximately 1000 miles to the southeast of
Hawaii; and
WHEREAS, since the dawning of the nucleaz era, Pacific islands have been used for the
testing of more than 250 nuclear devices, which represents a disregard for the well-being of the
indigenous people and the other inhabitants of these islands subjecting them to the contamination
of their environment with nucleaz waste; and
WHEREAS, the proposal to store nuclear waste on the Palmyra Atoll further exemplifies
a disregard for the well-being of the Pacific island community and jeopazdizes the environmental
health of the region as a whole, which is home to some of the world's most fragile ecosystems;
and
WHEREAS, the Council of the County of Hawaii in adopting Resolution No. 156-95
(Urging French President H. E. Jacques Chirac to Reconsider His Decision to Commence
Nucleaz Testing at Mururoa Atoll in French Polynesia) and Resolution No. 199-95
(Relating to Nuclear Free Week) has gone on record opposing further contamination of the
Pacific Basin with nuclear materials; and
WHEREAS, U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka and U.S. Representative Neil Abercrombie have
both proposed legislation to amend the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, which would prohibit
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission from licensing the storage of nucleaz waste in any of the
U.S. territories, including Pacific territories such as Midway Island and Palmyra.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF
HAWAII that it strongly opposes the storage of nuclear waste on the Palmyra Atoll and it
supports the passage of any legislation which would serve to prevent the further nuclear
contamination of the Pacific, thereby safeguazding our environmental quality and protecting the
inhabitants of the Pacific from the health hazards such contamination would pose for generations
to come.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the County of Hawaii transmit copies of
this Resolution to the President of the United States, Bill Clinton; Senate Majority Leader,
Senator Trent Lott; Speaker of the House, Representative Newt Gingrich; Democratic Leader of
the Senate, Senator Thomas Daschle; Democratic Leader of the House of Representatives,
Representative Richazd Gephazdt; Chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee,
Senator Frank Murkowski; Chair of the House Resources Committee, Representative
Don Young; Senator Daniel Akaka; Senator Daniel Inouye; U.S. Representative
Neil Abercrombie; U.S. Representative Patsy Mink; U.S. Congressional Delegate from
American Samoa, Neeni F. H. Faleomayaega; and U.S. Congressional Delegate from Guam,
Robert Underwood.
Dated: Hilo, Hawaii, this 3xd day of July 1996.
COU
Coi
I hereby certify that the fo
vote indicated to the right
the County of Hawaii on
ATTEST:
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NTY COUNCIL R OLL CAL L VOTE
tasty of Hawari AYES NOES ABS EX
silo, Hawaii
Arakaki X
Bonk-Abramson X
regoing RESOLUTION was by the ~~ X
hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of ~ Luna X
July 3, 1996 ~011"g° X
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9 0 0 0
COUNTY CLERK CHAIRMAN & PRESIDING OFFICER
Reference C -12 61
RESOLUTION NO. 3 6
INTRODUCED BY: