Category: Natural Resources

  • HB1385 – What now?

    HB1385  was the bill which would’ve protected the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail on the Big Island. It provided for a 2000 foot shoreline setback on state land on the big Island. It didn’t get a hearing and is dead for this session.

    When it was first submitted to the environmental Caucus it was a proposal to provide a shoreline set back on state lands from Ulupo point to South point and around to Volcano national Park. That’s what the caucus voted on to support. The bill as submitted included all state lands on the Big Island.

    The purpose, which the caucus supported was to protect Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, protect public access to the coast and provide an opportunity to build a trail parallel to the historic Trail which would provide biking and hiking opportunities.

    The objectives are worthy of our continued support.

    Rep. Chang held the bill in committee because he wanted a resolution from the County indicating their support. It also appears we may have stepped on some toes at the Hawaii County Caucus. We should definitely have had their participation and support, but being new and inexperienced, we were not aware of many of the institutions on the Big Island whose support we should have solicited.

    Personally, I think this proposal is very complex and we  approached it without sufficient research. I think our legislators will want to have a plot by plot analysis detailing information about each piece of state land. I think they want to know things like:

    1. The geology of each plot and how subject the coast is to erosion and other impacts of sea level rise.

    2. Where the Ala Kahakai trail is in relation to the coastline.

    3. What species are present on the plot.

    4. What potential impacts might this proposal have on potential future developments.

    5. What maintenance costs are foreseen. For instance, will fountain grass need to be controlled in order to maintain access.

    With this kind of information are legislators will be better able to evaluate the projects impacts and benefits.

    In pursuing this project in the future we need to touch bases with as many organizations as possible. We need to know who our opposition is and the breadth and depth of our support.

    I do not think volunteers can gathered the detailed information the legislators will require.  Gathering this information will require funding.  I suspect that if the state was to contract this study the consultant would charge over $100,000. With todays economy that will be difficult to sell.

    A resolution asking UH Hilo Environmental Students to take on the study with a stipend for expenses, and perhaps a tuition scholarship would be a practical way to provide the needed information.

     

  • Action Alert regarding Caucus Priority–House Bill 1385, relating to Shoreline Setback

    Aloha Members,

    At our last General Caucus meeting, we selected this item as one of our nine priority items. We will be advocating on its behalf, but you can do more by helping to spread the word, and writing your representatives to express your individual support for this bill.  I have copied an e-mail from Debbie Hecht on the Big Island, with contact information and talking points.

    Let’s get the word out that we support this bill. You will find details below.

    **********************************

    Please write to the members of the Water Land and Ocean Resources Committee and ask them to support

    Bill 1385- Relating to Coastline Preservation.

    IF PASSED THIS MEASURE WOULD PRESERVE ALMOST 100 MILES OF HAWAII ISLAND SHORELINE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

    TALKING POINTS: Bill 1385 will protect almost 100 miles of coastline on Hawaii Island by preserving ocean access, protect the reefs from sedimentation and protecting habitat for ocean species, protect the Ala Kahakai Trail, protect over 35 cultural sites along the Trail, link the 4 National Parks, provide room to build a parallel trail for hiking and biking for residents and visitors, that could be the foundation of an eco-tourism industry and provide jobs for people of our island.

    IN YOUR EMAIL at the subject line- write BILL 1385-COASTLINE PRESERVATION- SUPPORT

    ASK THE COMMITTEE TO PUT THIS ON THEIR AGENDA FOR 2011.

    To Read the text of Bill 1385 and to see a map of the almost 100 miles of shoreline to be preserved go to www.dhecht.com

    Bill 1385 is a top priority for the Democratic Party’s Environmental Caucus and the Surfrider Foundation. We are asking groups for letters of support.

    These are the committee members of the WATER, LANDS AND OCEAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE.

    Cut and paste the following email addresses to send an email TODAY:

    repchang@Capitol.hawaii.gov, rephar@Capitol.hawaii.gov, repcabanilla@Capitol.hawaii.gov, repcarroll@Capitol.hawaii.gov, repchong@Capitol.hawaii.gov, repcoffman@capitol.hawaii.gov,repherkes@Capitol.hawaii.gov, repito@Capitol.hawaii.gov, repmorita@Capitol.hawaii.gov, repnakashima@capitol.hawaii.gov, repriviere@capitol.hawaii.gov, repthielen@Capitol.hawaii.gov

    We are very lucky to have 4 Big island reps on committee, If these representatives are from your district please make sure you stress that you are a voter in that district.

    1. Chair Chang from South Hilo, Waiakea Kai, Kaumana, Keaukaha and
    2. Nakashima from Kohala and Hamakua and Hilo,
    3. Herkes from South Kona and Ka’u,
    4. Coffman from Kona.

    HOW YOU CAN HELP:

    1. Do you have a group that we can meet with to get a letter or support?
    2. Hand out the attached information sheet.
    3. Read the text of the Bill at www.dhecht.com and download the map.
    4. Can we put your name on the Angels List to be kept informed?
    5. Could you be a key person to keep other people in your email contacts informed?

  • Caucus Testimony Policy

    Aloha Members of the Environmental Caucus of Hawai’i,

    As we enter this important next stage of our advocacy, the Steering Committee felt the need to set a testimony policy for those appearing on behalf of the Caucus. While individual members are always free to offer testimony on their own behalf, if you want to testify on behalf of the Caucus, we ask that you follow the policy we adopted at our last Steering Committee meeting.

    I have included a copy of that policy below.

    Caucus Testimony Policy

    Testimony on Bills before the Hawaii State Legislature may be provided on behalf of the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii as follows:

    1) Subcommittee Chairs, their designee and or those members designated by the Caucus Steering Committee may offer testimony on behalf of the Caucus on all measures officially adopted as Caucus priorities.  For the 2011 legislative session, there are 9 priorities and the intent is that there will be 9 identified Bills on which official Caucus testimony may be offered.

    2)  Subcommittee Chairs, their designee and or those members designated by the Caucus Steering Committee may offer testimony on behalf of the Caucus on all measures before the legislature that are substantially similar to those Bills officially adopted as Caucus priorities.

    3)  Subcommittee Chairs and or those members designated by the Caucus Steering Committee may offer testimony on behalf of the Caucus on any measures that have been otherwise approved by a majority of the Steering Committee.

    • Those seeking majority approval may circulate an e-mail request to the full Steering Committee asking for approval.
    • Only e-mail responses indicating approval will count as a yes vote.
    • Once the votes are in, the requester must e-mail a vote outcome to the Steering Committee, to ensure the votes were counted accurately.

    4)  Copies of all testimony given “on behalf of the Caucus” must be provided to the Steering Committee at the Steering Committee Meeting held following the presentation of the testimony.

  • HB379 re Quarantine

    Requires the invasive species council to periodically update an invasive species list. Requires council to update list prior to 6/30/12. Provides an additional penalty for anyone who possesses or intentionally transports, harbors, or imports with the intent to propagate, sell, or release in the State, any invasive species on the list. 

  • SB1059 Banning Plastic Bags

    Prohibits certain businesses in the State from distributing single-use plastic checkout bags as defined in this Act. Effective 7/1/12.

    If you need help tracking legislation contact me.

    Natural Resources Subcommittee Chair Bill Sager
    bsager42@gmail.com

  • Legislative Advocacy

    At today’s Environmental General Caucus meeting, we selected three issues from the Natural Resources Subcommittee’s recommendations that the Caucus will advocate for during the 2011 legislative session. They were:

    1.Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail
    PROTECT The Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail AND PRESERVE THE COASTLINE FROM UPOLU POINT TO Hawaii Volcanoes National Park ON THE ISLAND OF HAWAI’I BY REQUESTING A 2,000 FOOT CONSERVATION EASEMENT COASTLINE SETBACK ON ALL STATE OWNED LANDS. see http:// environmentalcaucusofthedemocraticpartyofhawaii.wordpress.com/subcommittees/natural- resource-management/ for details.
    Debbie’s Hecht has done her homework on this and has a draft bill ready to go. She is also doing a fantastic job of community organizing. We received a lot of e-mail votes from the big Island for this particular legislation.

    2. Ban the use of plastic bags and styrofoam food containers in Hawaii.
    The environmental community has been trying to get this legislation enacted for at least a decade. The bills are ready to go, and if we finally want to see it passed, we will need a lot of public support and your advocacy. In other words, call your Representatives, write your Senators, stay informed, keep in touch, get your friends involved, and be ready to testify in person or online if you can.

    3.Improve quarantine inspection system that will minimize the introduction of alien pests, including joint federal-state inspection facilities at the ports of entry like Honolulu International Airport and Honolulu Harbor.

    We will be planning  how to proceed with this at our next steering committee meeting on December 29. We will need to decide if this legislation should be in the form of a resolution or a bill, and how the legislation should be worded. Anyone who wants to be involved in advocating for this legislation should e-mail their recommendations to bsager42@gmail.com.

    Finally, I see my job as chair of the subcommittee as facilitator and coordinator of our discussions. Also when no one can step forward to advocate for one of these bills, I will do so. I will be particularly enthusiastic about advocating for bills submitted by our neighbor island members. Specifically, I expect to advocate for Aka Kahakai National Historic Trail.

    For those of you who have not been involved in advocating for legislation, it is a very time-consuming process, which is why the Steering Committee felt that we should limit the number of bills we should  advocate for. A few of our members expressed frustration that the Caucus will not be advocating for the entire environmental slate. If you want to advocate for issues not included in our top three, we encourage you to do so. I’m sure you could get Caucus support for your effort, and we will be happy to keep our members informed of hearing dates, etc. on all important environmental issues.

    I personally will advocate for the coastal setback legislation provided Debbie finds a local Hawaii legislator who will submit the bill. I will also need the map she showed at today’s meeting and a list of talking points.

    I anticipate members of the natural resource subcommittee who voted on item two, to ban plastic, will step forward to advocate for that legislation.

    Item three, relating to quarantine inspection, will require the most work.

    Anyone interested in advocating for any of these bills should plan on attending our December 29 steering committee meeting.

    Mahalo, Bill

  • Pick your top 3 priorities

    This is an initiative of the Resource Management Subcommittee of the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii

    This is a poll asking Democratic Party Members to pick their top three bills or resolution to be advocated for in the 2011 legislative session.

    [polldaddy poll=4230757]