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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0271.101 2012-2014 Page 1 of 1 Murashige, Laura COUNTY CLERK COUNTY OF HAWAII From: Alicia Maluafiti - HCIA [director@hciaonline.com] Sent: Saturday, May 11, 2013 8:37 PM 2013 MAY 13 AM 52 To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us Subject: Testimony for Bill 79 Attachments: Testimony on Bill 79.pdf Alicia Maluafiti, Executive Director Hawaii Crop Improvement Association Growing the Future of Worldwide Agriculture in Hawaii www.hciaonline.com Comm. No 0�� • 101 Ref. To: S M'f Ref. Date MAY 14 2013 5/13/2013 Testimony by Alicia Maluafiti, Executive Director Bill 79—Relating to Prohibition of Genetically Modified Organisms Hawaii County Council—Public Safety and Mass Transit Committee Hearing Tuesday, May 14, 2013, 9 a.m. Position: Oppose Aloha Chair and members of the Committee: My name is Alicia Maluafiti, Executive Director of the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, a nonprofit trade association representing Hawaii seed farmers. We oppose Bill 79. According to this bill, farmers would not be able to grow any genetically engineered crop on their land once the law took effect. But if a farmer is already growing GMO crops (like rainbow papaya),they are not prohibited from growing the crops but must follow the physical containment protocols of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Biosafety Level-3 (BSL-3)facilities. What are BSL-3 Facilities? Facilities with the designation BSL-3 use pathogens in research and diagnostic activities that could constitute a threat to either human health or productivity of the agriculture system including SARS and West Nile virus. Laboratory personnel at BSL-3 facilities have specialized training in handling pathogens and toxins and are supervised by scientists experienced in working with these agents. The USDA uses state-of-the-art technology to maintain a high level of containment and control. BSL-3 facilities prevent contamination using a broad range of techniques and barriers, including tightly controlled and restricted access to facilities, techniques that require handling of infectious materials in sealed containers or biosafety cabinets, special clothing and advanced training. Farmers Are Growing Food Crops—Not Dangerous Pathogens This bill erroneously lumps farmers and the GE crops they grow in a category reserved for dangerous biological agents.A biosafety level is the level of the biocontainment precautions required to isolate dangerous bjolcgcdl a entc in an enclosed facility. The levels of containment range from the lowest biosafety level 1 (BSL-1) to the highest at level 4 (BSL-4). Ecoli is BSL-1; Salmonella is BSL-2; SARS virus is a BSL-3; and Smallpox is BSL-4. This bill categorizes farmers as a BSL-3 threat to public health and safety! Farmers would have to spend millions of dollars to build and maintain facilities to grow their GE crops and keep them contained as required by bill. Farmers would then have the additional administrative burden of implementing costly and highly technical policies and procedures as required in the USDA's BSL-3 manual which includes Inventory Control Procedures, Physical Security Systems, Cybersecurity Systems, Personnel Suitability, and Biosecurity Incident Response Plan. Genetically Engineered Crops are Safe Agricultural biotechnology saved the papaya industry from the papaya ringspot virus. Without it, Hawaii would have no papaya. Hawaii's own Rainbow Papaya has been growing on the big island for more than 13 years. Millions of pounds are exported and consumed around the world every year—a testament to the health and safety of the fruit. More than 150 small papaya farmers with family owned farms are the target of fear-mongering by anti-GMO activists who perpetuate false claims and myths about genetically engineered food. In addition, the last of only two dairy farmers in the state is growing genetically engineered corn to feed his cows. He would also be immediately impacted by this law. In almost 20 years, 3 trillion servings, and more than 17 million farmers around the world growing genetically engineered crops (90 percent of which are in developing countries struggling with subsistence living),there is not one documented case of harm to people, animals or the environment. Cost to the County: Implementation and Litigation The County Department of Environmental Management would administer and enforce the law with staff whose jobs are oversight of sewer operation and maintenance, solid waste disposal and landfill programs, vehicle disposal, and other environmental projects, including recycling programs. The Department lacks the expertise, resources and funding to effectively manage a law that targets biological threats. The bill would also open the County to risks of civil litigation by private citizens for failure to properly enforce the law. Since the DEM would have little ability to enforce the law,the County would have to defend numerous and very expensive lawsuits by plaintiff attorneys. Bill 79 even opens the County to litigation by private property owners for what amounts to as a regulatory taking—denying the property owner of economically viable use of the land. In this case, the law restricts the right of farmers to grow GE crops on their land. The use of eminent domain is allowed only to promote and protect public health, safety, welfare and morals. But more than 600 independent studies as well as the US federal government and the European Union have said that GE crops are safe. The scientific evidence is overwhelming. The County government is already struggling with fiscal constraints and competing priorities that appropriately address the quality of life of residents. There are more important environmental issues facing Hawaii island such as the coqui frog and fire ant as well as other invasive species more detrimental to the flora and fauna of the island. Science and Technology Shunned Sadly, Bill 79 sends a sad message to the world that the island is closing its borders to science and technology. It took 30 years to find a solution to the papaya ringspot virus. Investment in research may one day be necessary to fight the banana bunchy top virus or coffee berry beetle or any other infestation that could invade the island. Research may one day help find crops that can grow on non-arable soil like the lava fields or even find new alternative energies not even dreamed of today.These types of incubator activities provide endless economic opportunities for Hawaii island and the state. Passing legislation that is based on myth and fallacy and which fails to acknowledge scientific evidence will shut down future investment needed to find solutions to some of Hawaii's most serious agricultural - and real environmental challenges. Please kill Bill 79. Don't let fear drive your policy making. Mahalo for the opportunity to testify. Aloha. Page 1 of 1 Murashige, Laura COUNTY CLERK From: Harvey Martin [metamind @bellsouth.net] COUNTY OF HAWAII Sent: Monday, May 13, 2013 2:41 AM 2M3 MAY { 3 AN 8t 46 To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us Subject: Bill 79 GMO To: Public Safety & Mass Transit Committee Re: Bill 79 Please support this important bill to prohibit genetically modified organisms! History has shown us time and again how fragile Hawaii's ecosystem is and how it can be irreparably damaged by careless and unproven or unknown introduction of foreign organisms, plants, and species. Please protect and support our traditional and organic farms here in Hawaii county as well as the many sustainable farmers and permaculture farms that has taken root here. Thank you, Harvey Martin P.O. Box 7695 Hilo, HI 96720 l l:arvey Martin Metamind Enterprises, Inc. Aramaic Bible Center, LLC POB 5154 Canton, GA 30115 www.metamind.net www.aramaicbiblecenter.com v ww.peroxygel.com www.harveymartin.com 5/13/2013