HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0271.362 2012-2014 Council Testimony rnUNTV Y CLERK 1I
From: Gary Hooser <garylhooser @gmail.com> 2013 JUL ( Q
Sent: Monday, July 01, 2013 2:51 PM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Strong Support of Bill 79
I am writing in strong support of Bill 79 and encourage the Hawaii County Council to vote unanimously to pass
this forward thinking legislation.
On Kauai our landscape and our agricultural lands are dominated by the GMO agro chemical industry. Small
farmers and ranchers have complained that the industry has driven up the costs and and are in control of the
majority of good farm land in our County. Residents living adjacent to Pioneer Corn's test fields have filed suit
claiming negative health impacts from the pesticide laden dust blowing into nearby neighborhoods.
While much is said about how the industry has been studied and the research is complete, the long term and
cumulative environmental and health impacts on Kauai County from this very intensive industrial type
agriculture are unknown and no one has studied or researched the net impact over time on the health and natural
environment of our community. While I have attempted to work with the industry to obtain clear data regarding
their extensive application of Restricted Use Pesticides, industry representatives have refused to cooperate.
After spending hundreds of County dollars, making an official UIPA request and waiting for months, the State
Department of Agriculture ultimately released data showing that 22 different Restricted Use Pesticides (RUP)
totalling over 14 tons are used annually by these companies. Except for Kauai Coffee, no other farmer on
Kauai that raises actual food for consumption or export uses RUP's to any signficant degree whatsoever. These
same agro chemical companies are experimenting with pesticides within Kauai County and yet refuse to release
copies of their Experimental Pesticide Use Permits. In addition to the estimated 14 tons per year of RUP's and
an unknown quantity of Experimental Pesticides, the industry also uses an unknown quantity of General Use
Pesticides (unknown because the industry will not release the data).
I would be pleased to meet and speak directly with any Councilmember on this issue and strongly encourage a
unanimous vote in support. Please read and place into the public record an article I wrote recently "It's Not
About Eating The Corn". On GMO labeling and regulation.
http://garyhooser.wordpress.com/2013/02/21/its-not-about-eating-the-corn/
Gary Hooser
Member Kauai County Council
Former Director Office of Environmental Quality Control
Former Hawaii State Senator
808-652-4279
Comm. 7I. 3�D 2-
1 Ref. Date JUL 4 2 01—L_