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| Keiki play while a monk seal basks at Honu'apo. Photo by Julia Neal |
ALL OF THE KA`U COASTLINE and the shores of all the inhabited Hawaian Islands are proposed for federal designation as critical Hawaiian monk seal habitat, but the state Department of Land and Natural Resources is objecting, according to a story in Civil Beat by Sophie Cocke. The story reports the DLNR contending the designation “would create an unnecessary layer of bureaucratic red tape and do little if anything to promote the species’ survival.”
However, environmental groups object, “arguing it’s a critical step for a seal population that is heading toward extinction,” the Civil Beat story says. Only 1,100 Hawaiian monk seals are believed to remain, and the population could be declining about four percent a year.
“If the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration bows to state pressure to significantly amend or discard the designation, it could be sued by environmental groups who have not hesitated to use the courts elsewhere to win protection under the Endangered Species Act,” reports Civil Beat. It was a band of groups in Hawai`i - the Center for Biological Diversity, Honolulu-based KAHEA and Ocean Conservancy that first petitioned NOAA in 2008 to extend critical habitat designation to the shores of all the inhabited Hawaiian Islands, since the uninhabited northwest Hawaiian Islands were already protected, notes Civil Beat.
Marti Townsend, director of KAHEA, told Civil Beat that the federal government wasn’t “fulfilling its mandate to protect the species from extinction.” Under the critical habitat protection, NOAA would review activities that require federal permits or action or use federal funds to make sure monk seals would be safe. The designated protected zone would run from a depth of 1,650 feet offshore and extend onto the beaches and about 16 feet inland. It would cover the coasts of all the islands, except for harbors and military bases.
The DLNR called the proposal “overly broad,” and said it is “inconsistent with the actual physical and biological needs of the endangered monk seal, and is an extraordinary regulatory burden on government officials unrelated to the management activities that would actually promote recovery of the seal population.” Fishermen have testified that seals can be aggressive and go after their catch.
Jean Higgins, who works for NOAA on the monk seal issue, told Civil Beat that leaving out any coastal areas would require proof that the designation would create significant economic impact or a national security risk. Omitting strands of coast could invite a lawsuit, she said.
Miyoko Sakashita, an attorney and oceans director for the Center for Biological Diversity, told Civil Beat that “beaches and marinas proposed for critical habitat are what the science tells us are essential areas for the endangered monk seal.”
NOAA could either decide on a habitat map in June or ask for a six-month extension, reports Civil Beat. See more at civilbeat.com.
However, environmental groups object, “arguing it’s a critical step for a seal population that is heading toward extinction,” the Civil Beat story says. Only 1,100 Hawaiian monk seals are believed to remain, and the population could be declining about four percent a year.
“If the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration bows to state pressure to significantly amend or discard the designation, it could be sued by environmental groups who have not hesitated to use the courts elsewhere to win protection under the Endangered Species Act,” reports Civil Beat. It was a band of groups in Hawai`i - the Center for Biological Diversity, Honolulu-based KAHEA and Ocean Conservancy that first petitioned NOAA in 2008 to extend critical habitat designation to the shores of all the inhabited Hawaiian Islands, since the uninhabited northwest Hawaiian Islands were already protected, notes Civil Beat.
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| Sophie Cocke, Civil Beat journalist. Photo from Civil Beat |
The DLNR called the proposal “overly broad,” and said it is “inconsistent with the actual physical and biological needs of the endangered monk seal, and is an extraordinary regulatory burden on government officials unrelated to the management activities that would actually promote recovery of the seal population.” Fishermen have testified that seals can be aggressive and go after their catch.
Jean Higgins, who works for NOAA on the monk seal issue, told Civil Beat that leaving out any coastal areas would require proof that the designation would create significant economic impact or a national security risk. Omitting strands of coast could invite a lawsuit, she said.
Miyoko Sakashita, an attorney and oceans director for the Center for Biological Diversity, told Civil Beat that “beaches and marinas proposed for critical habitat are what the science tells us are essential areas for the endangered monk seal.”
NOAA could either decide on a habitat map in June or ask for a six-month extension, reports Civil Beat. See more at civilbeat.com.
THE TEACHERS UNION will come to the Ka'u campus for a listening session concerning union negotiations with the state. The meeting is set for this Friday, Jan. 27 at the Ka'u High School Band Room from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. The meeting follows the rejection of a new employment contract by members of the Hawai`i State Teachers Association. Union leaders are touring the state to get input. Teachers say they want to know how they will be judged, as the proposed contract ties teacher pay to student performance. According to a statement from the union, “HSTA leaders want to hear from teachers. This listening tour is just one of many opportunities being provided to teachers to give feedback and input about the contract, ratification process and the options for negotiations going forward. Teachers are reminded to bring their school IDs with them.
THE STATE SUNSHINE LAW could be eased to allow public commission, committee and board members to attend events, conferences and other meetings without violating the open meetings law. The current law has restricted such volunteers as members of the Ka`u Community Development Plan Steering Committee from going to some community meetings, as they could be seen as convening outside of their CDP steering meetings.
TAX CREDITS FOR LARGE CAPACITY BIOFUEL REFINERIES are proposed at the 2012 state Legislature. The bill, carried over from last year, would allow up to $12 million a year in tax credits toward capital investment of building a biofuel farm and refinery, if at least 75 percent of the feedstock is grown in Hawai`i. The cap on the tax credit would be $12 million a year in capital investment, and the law would require the refinery to be operational before the tax credits are taken. Tax credits would cover “capital expenditures in agricultural infrastructure, including irrigation and drainage systems, land clearing and leveling, establishment of crops, planting and cultivation. It would also include purchase of processing equipment, boilers, turbines, generators, waste treatment systems, pipelines and liquid storage tanks at the facility,” the bill says.
“The local production of these biofuels could contribute to Hawai`i’s renewable energy objectives, reduce the impact of world oil price volatility, provide a measure of energy security, provide economic diversification, encourage increased agricultural production and circulate Hawai`i’s energy expenditures within Hawai`i’s economy,” the proposed legislation says. Biofuel farms and a refinery has been proposed for Ka`u.
THE RAIN FOLLOWS THE FOREST airs on KHNL television tomorrow from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturday from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Jason Scott Lee documentary talks about preservation of Hawai`i’s watershed as Lee describes his simple lifesyle in Volcano where he farms kalo. Lee, who often fishes with friends along the Ka`u Coast, is famous for his acting roles on the London stage and in films such as the Bruce Lee Story, The Jungle Book and Rapanui. The Rain Follows the Forest is sponsored by the state Department of Land & Natural Resources.
Ka`u High's Girls Basketball won at home last night in both the JV and Varsity games. Ka`u racked up 45 points to Kea`au's 25 in the JV game. Denisha Navarro was the high point scorer with 27. In Varsity, Ka`u scored 42 points and Kea`au 39. Taylor Pocock scored 9, with Joyce Ibasan, Janessa Jara and Shaylin Navarro each scoring 8, reports Athletic Director Kalei Namohala.
THE STATE SUNSHINE LAW could be eased to allow public commission, committee and board members to attend events, conferences and other meetings without violating the open meetings law. The current law has restricted such volunteers as members of the Ka`u Community Development Plan Steering Committee from going to some community meetings, as they could be seen as convening outside of their CDP steering meetings.
TAX CREDITS FOR LARGE CAPACITY BIOFUEL REFINERIES are proposed at the 2012 state Legislature. The bill, carried over from last year, would allow up to $12 million a year in tax credits toward capital investment of building a biofuel farm and refinery, if at least 75 percent of the feedstock is grown in Hawai`i. The cap on the tax credit would be $12 million a year in capital investment, and the law would require the refinery to be operational before the tax credits are taken. Tax credits would cover “capital expenditures in agricultural infrastructure, including irrigation and drainage systems, land clearing and leveling, establishment of crops, planting and cultivation. It would also include purchase of processing equipment, boilers, turbines, generators, waste treatment systems, pipelines and liquid storage tanks at the facility,” the bill says.
“The local production of these biofuels could contribute to Hawai`i’s renewable energy objectives, reduce the impact of world oil price volatility, provide a measure of energy security, provide economic diversification, encourage increased agricultural production and circulate Hawai`i’s energy expenditures within Hawai`i’s economy,” the proposed legislation says. Biofuel farms and a refinery has been proposed for Ka`u.
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| Jason Scott Lee practices sustainable farming, planting Kalo in Volcano. Photo from DLNR |
Ka`u High's Girls Basketball won at home last night in both the JV and Varsity games. Ka`u racked up 45 points to Kea`au's 25 in the JV game. Denisha Navarro was the high point scorer with 27. In Varsity, Ka`u scored 42 points and Kea`au 39. Taylor Pocock scored 9, with Joyce Ibasan, Janessa Jara and Shaylin Navarro each scoring 8, reports Athletic Director Kalei Namohala.