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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0393.326 2012-2014 comments on Bill 113 (draft 2) for Hawai'i County Council, 4 PM Tuesday, October 15, 2013, West Hawaii Civic Center by Cory Harden, PO Box 10265, Hilo, Occupied Hawai'i 96721 808-959-7747 mh©interpac.net Please support this bill. However, please drop Exemption (1) and add a sunset date of two years for GMO corn. Otherwise, all corn islandwide is at risk for GMO contamination. Please do not support Mr. Onishi's amendments (Communications 393. 52, 53, 54, 55, and 56) which completely gut the bill. The amendments-- COURT CLERK • delete registration COUNTY OF HAWAII • grant exemptions for BECEIVED cp existing GMO crop locations Time 3:41-4.0-03y O people working for universities and government Date IO-iS-13 • flowering and ornamental plants • plants granted non-regulated status by USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture)—even if it's granted in the future. I'm glad amendments for enforcement are proposed. Our County has very limited resources for enforcement. But it falls on us because the reds and State have failed to pass adequate GMO laws. Please consider adding two sections from Bill 109-- • "Disposal of confiscated genetically modified organisms", which spells out how to safely dispose of GMOs • "Penal Enforcement" (b), which makes whoever grew GMOs responsible for cleaning them up Passing this bill might draw a lawsuit from the biotechs—but that could blow up in their faces. Court proceedings could shine a light on their hazardous practices. They would face the legal and financial resources not just of our island, but of multiple national environmental groups. It could end up a big loss for the biotechs, and a big win for us as the only Hawaiian island that beat biotech. Not passing this bill could make us end up like Kauai. They're finding out way too late that GMOs mean lot: of pesticides and herbicides, but little disclosure about what's used, how much, and where, and almost no help from the state. Enforcing Kaua'; s GMO bill would cost over $1 million—in the first year. it banning GMOs is a mistake, it's easiiy fixed it allo rng (GMOs is a mistake, that may never he sera right. Comm.No 3 93. 326 Ref.To: P(Ce cence'/ Ref. Date OCT 15 2013