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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0386.014 2010-2012Takata, Sharon From: Smart, Brittany Sent: Tuesday, October 04, 2011 11:20 AM To: Takata, Sharon Subject: FW: Testimony for Bill 112 re Axis Deer Attachments: Testimony for CoH Bill 112 re Axis Deer_frw 3SEP11.docx Brittany Smart Councilmember, District 6 Upper Puna, Ka'u, South Kona 25 Aupuni St Hilo, HI 96720 (808) 961 -8263 bsmart@co.hawaii.hi.us Please consider the environment before printing this email. From: Frederick Warshauer [mailto:frwvolcano @hotmail.com] Sent: Monday, October 03, 2011 11:35 AM To: Hawaii County Council; Camarena, Barbara; Yagong, Dominic; Smart, Brittany Subject: Testimony for Bill 112 re Axis Deer I am submitting Testimony for Bill 112 re Axis Deer, attached and copied below. Mahalo, Rick Warshauer Volcano 967 -7476 Page 1 of 2 PIEMC Testimony for Bill No. 112, Hearing 4OCT11, Environmental Management Comm. From: Rick Warshauer, Volcano Committee members: I commend Councilman Yagong for his timely introduction of this important bill. It is reassuring to see Hawaii County step into the void being left by the state on this issue. This bill recognizes that the recent introduction of axis deer is an invasive species threat, not a hunting issue. This alien species has the realization to damage our island's resurging agricultural industries, to threaten drivers with serious vehicular collisions, to risk transmitting bovine tuberculosis to our cattle industry, and to irreparably damage our threatened native plants and animals. Each of these impacts has already been experienced on other islands in our chain by ever - growing populations of deer there. It appears that the recent introduction of the deer to various points on this island is a coordinated and expensive endeavor, involving a number of motivated individuals to capture, hold and on CO ZC -<-4 =1"-- rn 7C1 3:>c Comm. No. 86 • ice Ref. To f'/E L Ref. Date �j' 4 2Q1 10/4/2011 1_ Page 2 of 2 transport the animals from other island(s) and to fly or otherwise move them to release sites on this island. These actions appear to be ongoing, and each release action increases the odds that the species cannot be eradicated from the Hawaii Island. This conspiracy already presents grave consequences to this island: very expensive detection and eradication efforts, and possibly far greater financial, social and environmental consequences should the deer not be eradicated. It is with the foregoing consequences and ongoing actions in mind that I offer the following suggestions for amendments. Section 14- . Penalty. -- Increase the penalties significantly to be a deterrent and to reflect the serious consequences of establishing these deer on the island. I suggest that the category of the offense be a Class C Felony, with fines in the range of $100,000 to $500,000, and at least 5 years prison time for those involved in any way. The bill needs to be a real deterrent, not just a nuisance. Section 14- . Transporting Living Axis Deer into Hawaii County unlawful. – Add "Intentionally imports, possesses, harbors, transfers, or transports, including through interisland or intra - island movement, with the intent to propagate, sell, or release, any axis deer or other deer species" to the definition of prohibited actions. The scope has to be unequivocal and wide enough to include all participating actions and actors. This and the preceding amendment proposal reflect existing Hawaii Department of Agriculture legislation, despite the department's current disinterest in enforcing their law. This underscores the need and importance of passing a tough bill at the county level. Section 14- Exemptions. – Delete this section. You need to be consistent and unequivocal about the presence of live deer on this island. The zoo does not need to have live animals in order to inform the public about the animals — stuffed animal mounts, films and posters can achieve the same effect and not risk the perception of a double standard or possible inadvertent release. When the existing zoo deer die, let that be the last of them. 10/4/2011 Testimony for Bill No. 112, Hearing 4OCT11, Environmental Management Comm. From: Rick Warshauer, Volcano Committee members: I commend Councilman Yagong for his timely introduction of this important bill. It is reassuring to see Hawaii County step into the void being left by the state on this issue. This bill recognizes that the recent introduction of axis deer is an invasive species threat, not a hunting issue. This alien species has the realization to damage our island's resurging agricultural industries, to threaten drivers with serious vehicular collisions, to risk transmitting bovine tuberculosis to our cattle industry, and to irreparably damage our threatened native plants and animals. Each of these impacts has already been experienced on other islands in our chain by ever - growing populations of deer there. It appears that the recent introduction of the deer to various points on this island is a coordinated and expensive endeavor, involving a number of motivated individuals to capture, hold and transport the animals from other island(s) and to fly or otherwise move them to release sites on this island. These actions appear to be ongoing, and each release action increases the odds that the species cannot be eradicated from the Hawaii Island. This conspiracy already presents grave consequences to this island: very expensive detection and eradication efforts, and possibly far greater financial, social and environmental consequences should the deer not be eradicated. It is with the foregoing consequences and ongoing actions in mind that I offer the following suggestions for amendments. Section 14- . Penalty. -- Increase the penalties significantly to be a deterrent and to reflect the serious consequences of establishing these deer on the island. I suggest that the category of the offense be a Class C Felony, with fines in the range of $100,000 to $500,000, and at least 5 years prison time for those involved in any way. The bill needs to be a real deterrent, not just a nuisance. Section 14- . Transporting Living Axis Deer into Hawaii County unlawful. –Add "Intentionally imports, possesses, harbors, transfers, or transports, including through interisland or intra - island movement, with the intent to propagate, sell, or release, any axis deer or other deer species" to the definition of prohibited actions. The scope has to be unequivocal and wide enough to include all participating actions and actors. This and the preceding amendment proposal reflect existing Hawaii Department of Agriculture legislation, despite the department's current disinterest in enforcing their law. This underscores the need and importance of passing a tough bill at the county level. Section 14- Exemptions. – Delete this section. You need to be consistent and unequivocal about the presence of live deer on this island. The zoo does not need to have live animals in order to inform the public about the animals— stuffed animal mounts, films and posters can achieve the same effect and not risk the perception of a double standard or possible inadvertent release. When the existing zoo deer die, let that be the last of them.