HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP EDC 027 09/09/1987 1984-1988 r_
REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPVENT
DATE: September 9 , 1987
PLACE : Councilroom
TIME: 10 :00 a.m.
Chairman and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Economic Development, to which was referred
'Resolution No . 343-87 , relating to marine mineral lease sale ,
reports as follows:
The purpose of Resolution 343-87 is to 1) urge the U. S . Department
of the Interior and the State Department of Business and Economic
Development to extend the comment period for the draft environmental
impact statement prepared for the proposed marine mineral lease sale
in the Hawaiian Archipelago and Johnston Island Exclusive Economic
Zone and 2 ) recommend that the marine mining lease sale be delayed
for 5 years to allow for further assessment of the impacts of marine
mining of Hawaii ' s environmental , economic , social and regulatory
structures .
The U. S. Department of the Interior and the State Department of
Business and Economic Development propose to offer for lease
portions of the seafloor in the U. S . Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ )
surrounding the Hawaiian Archipelago and Johnston Island for the
exploration, development, and production of cobalt-rich
ferromanganese oxide crust materials . This lease program is being
developed in order to increase the United States ' self-sufficiency
in strategic metals , one of which is cobalt .
Potential processing sites selected on the Big Island for the
purposes of the environmental impact statement include areas in Puna ,
and Kohala.
Statements were made by members of the public in which they raised
the need for additional baseline data and further study on the
impacts of marine mining on Hawaii ' s fishing and tourism
industries . In addition, concerns were raised regarding the
adequacy of Federal , State , and County legislation for regulating
sea bed mining . The state of technology necessary for the industry
was also questioned.
A representative of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce stated that
manganese mining has progressed greatly over the last 12 years and
it is feared that any further delay, especially for a 5-year period,
may prove to be a detriment to the industry as a whole. He stressed
that the Chamber is concerned about the County' s economy and looks
upon the marine mining industry as a viable consideration for
expanding employment opportunities and providing economic stability.
EDC REPORT No . 27
ADOPTED: SEP 16 1987
„.
111 411
, .
EDC-27 Page 2 September 9 , 1987
An oral report of communications with Senator Inouye ' s office
pointed out the Senator ' s support for a 12-month moratorium on any
legislation for the promulgation of marine mining rules, the
re-opening of the EIS comment period, and providing the opportunity
for the counties to have a strong voice in the marine mining
process . A letter confirming his position is forthcoming .
Having considered the foregoing concerns, your committee finds that
tMarine mining will significantly impact the State ' s and the County 's
environment, economy, social structure, and regulatory process . As
such, your committee has amended page 2 , second paragraph, of
Resolution 343-87 by deleting the phrase "recommends that the marine
mining lease sale be delayed for 5 years” and adding "recommends
that a moratorium of the marine mining lease sale be put in place
for 1 year" .
Your Committee supports the intent and purpose of Resolution 343-87 ,
as amended , and recommends its passage .
4
eRRA E R. I AKU-INOUYE, CHAI ' OMAN
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'USSELL S . KOKUBUN, VIC CHAIRMAN JA ' . L. K. DAHLBERG, MuBER
Cl. t.
4401, 164 (I DO NOT CONCUR) tout
FRANK DE LUZ , III, MEMBER MER K. LAI , MEM R
LA/CRB