• EIS needed for SuperFerry EIS needed for SuperFerry By Councilmember JoAnn Yukimura It appears that those who are criticizing the County Council for opposing the Superferry (including The Garden-Island) have not read the Council resolution. That resolution, which was
• EIS needed for SuperFerry
EIS needed for SuperFerry
By Councilmember JoAnn Yukimura
It appears that those who are criticizing the County Council for opposing the Superferry (including The Garden-Island) have not read the Council resolution. That resolution, which was passed unanimously by the Council, does not oppose the Superferry. In fact, it acknowledges many of the benefits that Superferry could have — such as lower fares, not having to rent cars in Honolulu, etc.
What the resolution asks for is a good planning process to ensure that the potentially devastaing negative impacts are prevented or mitigated. Please consider its actual words:
WHEREAS, it is not the intention of the Council. . . to stop or obstruct the Superferry; rather is the intention of the council to protect the land and people of Kaua`i against degradation of the environment and social fabric by encouraging a proper planning process that would prevent or mitigate possible negative impacts. . . .now therefore”
Yes, the Council resolution does call for an environmental impact statement. That is because the Council believes that every far-reaching proposal, (such as the Superferry), should go through a thorough process that identifies all of the possible major consequences, invites public input, and develops strategies or programs to prevent or miti-gate satisfactorily the potential native impacts.
I think all of us want the positive aspects of the ferry — cheaper inter-island fares; the ability to take our car and our produce or products to the other islands faster than the barges and container ships. However, I don’t think any of us want to see our island infested with coqui frogs, mongooses or Guam tree snakes. Nor do we want our surf sites, our roads, our parks totally crowded out. Nor do we want more drugs or crime.
The economic and social consequences of the negative possibilities are mind-blowing. How will our visitor industry be affected when frogs squeak all night at 90 decibels? What will happen to the birds, our wildlife refuges, and nesting places if the mongoose (which feeds on eggs) or the tree snake were to invade our island? And what will happen to our roads which are already hopelessly crowded? What about thieves coming and leaving on the ferry, with no way to be apprehended? What about drug trafficking?
We need to know the answers to these questions. And to the extent that the Superferry will be causing these consequences, its proponents need to show us how they will prevent or cure those problems. As Planning Committee Chair, I have asked Superferry CEO John Garibaldi to appear before my committee to discuss these matters. I invite all who are interested to come to the Planning Committee meeting on Thursday, March 17, 2005. Mr. Garibaldi will be speaking at 9 a.m.
For the record, the Council resolution regarding the Superferry is about good planning and protecting what we love about Kaua`i.
