Does the government only offer the 1960s era containerization innovation on the 40' containers? Are there no modern 50' or whatever size container innovations available that are aerodynamic or lighter aluminum or similar materials that the government cannot provide? I’m sure China must have invented one by now. Is it not feasible to get the top loader style container so that we could fill almost completely with or without the burrito wrapping since you could bypass that and load debris up directly with backhoes and similar machines straight into the top of the container box and fill it to almost full capacity quickly and easily? Also, does the 400,000 cubic yards of debris spoken about, is that what is left after all the EPA hazardous debris has been removed? How is that number accumulated by? a break down available to the community would be appreciated.
I also wanted to note that the largest container barge on our Ocean is approximately 300’ Long x 100’ Wide, which we know is large but is also carrying between 5,000 to 15,000 - 40’ containers on average. To me that much space for that many containers on a site to clear all toxic debris does not seem that large to me. As an example, our Kahului harbor port carries approximately 1000 - 40’ containers at any one time on average.
This is the U.S. Government we are talking about, why supply chain and funding is even considered the largest issue is outrageous with the millions of available funding that State legislator could request/fight for, for one of the top tourism locations in the United States is mind blowing to me. As we stand aside and spend 400 million of our State tax dollars on building a new sports arena in Honolulu? Maybe we should load all the debris in there? Where are our priorities? we don't even have a NFL football team to support? Where are the private investors and why aren't they stepping up to the plate to help alleviate these cost? Mahalo for listening.
My family and I support the TEMPORARY disposition site at Olowalu. We own and lived in the burn zone, are kanaka maoli, and are still paying mortgage on a home that does not exist.
Insurance is insufficient to pay mortgage and a rental for our family (2 children under 3 years old), so we are couch surfing while trying to provide a stable life for our children. If we cannot rebuild within the projected timeline (2-3 years), then we will be forced to sell at a loss and move to the mainland (4 less Native Hawaiians in Hawaii). We have our own non-tourism related business, in an effort to diversify the local economy, which is needed as well.
Our heart breaks at the difficult decisions being made, but are hopeful that once the debris is cleared and rebuilding can begin- that the county acquires the adjacent lot to the Central Maui landfill (mentioned in previous DRIP meeting), and that be the final resting site for our destroyed property.
We must keep vigilant to monitor and hold county/ state accountable to be pro-active in the establishment of the final site in Central Maui, away from the aquifers, reef and higher water table.
The EPA has not ever had temporary toxic debris sites, nor have they constructed sites over underground aquifers. There is no supporting ecological or environmental studies proving that there will be no ramifications by dumping this toxic debris at olowalu. The best resolution is to get it off island to an EPA approved location. This will be another decision made by the government where we look back in 50 years and say, “look what has happened to the land, the water, and the reef and how that’s affected the people of Maui, this never should have been done.”
I apologize for copy and paste, but this is exactly how I feel. I live and work in Lahaina
I support the temporary disposition site of Olowalu with the need for a specified time frame for temporary and also onsite environmental monitoring during the entirety.
I also encourage the council to push the administration to provide a fact sheet with all the information and data sets be posted either to Maui recovers or another platform for our west Maui community members to view and make informed decisions.
I come to this extremely hard decision from a place within our community knowing the repercussions if we don’t move forward within a timely manner. The most important first and for most is the mental health within our community. I feel as though any sort of delay in the start of debris removal will directly affect our communities mental health. The need to start the forward motion is absolutely urgent, with families moving off island daily, we need to give our community a step forward and not one backwards.
Also to be mentioned is the detrimental effects that leaving the burn zone as is with upcoming winter storms, could impact our coastal waters on the entirety of the west side. Leaving the debris for months while this is redetermined will also affect our current community members and keiki living and going to school just steps away from the burn zone.
Also to be noted fema rental assistance will end within 18 months since the fire and can not be extended at which time I fear more and more community members will be leaving if there isn’t a forward motion of things. Also fema funding for the debris removal if I’m correct will end after a certain time frame. The detrimental affects of pushing this for months and getting ourselves in a situation where funding runs out could affect our west side for generations.
While the need to think about future generations is apparent, I urge the council to think about the present needs for our west side community. If we don’t take care of these issues now, there won’t be anything left of us to continue. The containment and protection of the debris at a temporary site with ongoing monitoring is absolutely necessary to continue this forward motion. Then in the next few months the community as a whole can continue the dialogue of permanent sites for the debris.person says it exactly as I see it. We need to move forward
Testimony from 1/2/24 shows many options for containment on site that could start now for Lahaina.
Drone footage does show stacking of stones at the temporary site, and was submitted into testimony for public record.
The contract by which the State gave permission to Maui County to develop a hazardous waste facility.
The contract by which the State gave land use permission for excavating the Olowalu mountain (Exhibit 1, p4. item 14) reads:
"In the event any unanticipated sites or remains such as bone or charcoal deposits, human burials, rock or coral alignments, pavings or walls are encountered the APPLICANT, it's consultants, contractors and/or persons acting for or on it's behalf shall stop work and contact the State Historic Preservations Division in Kapolei at (808) 692-8015 immediately."
Item 15 reads:
"In the event any historic properties or burial sites, as defined in section 6E-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, are found on premises, the APPLICANT and its agents, employees, and representatives shall immediately stop all land utilization or work or both and contact the Historic Preservation Office in compliance with chapter 6E, Hawaii Revised Statutes."
The Olowalu site is too ecologically fragile to risk as even a temporary site. Encapsulate remains of dearly departed and memorialize on site. Acquire appurtenant land to central landfill to process debris using new tech bioremediation techniques there. Restrict road travel during overnight hours to transport debris then. Learn from past environmental disasters. Don’t “cut off Olowalu’s nose to spite Lahaina’s face” so to speak.
DECLARATION OF RIGHTS by Kamehameha III at Lahaina, Maui, October 8, 1840:
DECLARATION OF RIGHTS, BOTH OF THE PEOPLE & CHIEFS.
"God hath made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on the earth," in unity and blessedness. God has also bestowed certain rights alike on all men and all chiefs, and all people of all lands. These are some of the rights which He has given alike to every man and every chief of correct deportment; life, limb, liberty, freedom from oppression; the earnings of his hands and the productions of his mind, not however to those who act in violation of the laws. God has also established government, and rule, for the purpose of peace; but in making laws for the nation it is by no means proper to enact laws for the protection of the rulers only, without also providing protection for their subjects; neither is it proper to enact laws to enrich the chiefs only, without regard to enriching their subjects also, and hereafter there shall by no means be any laws enacted which are at variance with what is above expressed, neither shall any tax be assessed, nor any service or labor required of any man, in a manner which is at variance with the above sentiments.
PROTECTION FOR THE PEOPLE DECLARED.
The above sentiments are hereby published for the purpose of protecting alike, both the people and the chiefs of all these islands, while they maintain a correct deportment; that no chief may be able to oppress any subject, but that chiefs and people may enjoy the same protection, under one and the same law. Protection is hereby secured to the persons of all the people, together with their lands, their building lots, and all their property, while they conform to the laws of the kingdom, and nothing whatever shall be taken from any individual except by express provision of the laws. Whatever chief shall act perseveringly in violation of this constitution, shall no longer remain a chief of the Hawaiian Islands, and the same shall be true of the Governors officers, and all land agents. But if anyone who is deposed should change his course and regulate his conduct by law, it shall then be in the power of the chiefs to reinstate him in the place he occupied previous to his being deposed.”
PUBLIC NOTICE
TREATY OF TRUCE
PURSUANT TO THE LAW OF NATIONS
LAW OF WAR
“I, Liliuokalani by the Grace of God and under the Constitution of the Hawaiian Kingdom Queen do hereby solemnly protest against any and all acts done against myself and the constitutional government of the Hawaiian Kingdom by certain persons claiming to have established a provisional government of and for this Kingdom.
That I yield to the superior force of the United States of America whose Minister Plenipotentiary His Excellency John L. Stevens has caused United States troops to be landed at Honolulu and declared that he would support the said provisional government.
Now to avoid any collision of armed forces and perhaps the loss of life I do under this protest and impelled by said force yield my authority until such time as the Government of the United States shall upon the facts being presented to it undo the action of its Representative and reinstate me in the authority which I claim as the constitutional sovereign of the Hawaiian Islands.
Done at Honolulu this seventeenth day of January, A.D. 1893.”
Liliuokalani R.
Samuel Parker, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
William H. Cornwell, Minister of Finance.
John F. Colburn, Minister of Interior.
A.P. Peterson, Attorney-General.
This Treaty of Truce between the Government of the United States and the Queen of the Hawaiian Islands, concluded to establish a suspension of hostilities in order, “...to avoid any collision of armed forces, and perhaps the loss of life…”, and bar any unlawful claim against the Hawaiian Kingdom and its dependencies. It constitutes a supreme law of the land, and is sustained by articles and amendments to the US Constitution to which Maui County and the State of Hawaii are bound to uphold. It is an invocation of the Law of War entered to bar any and all acts of hostility against the Hawaiian Islands and its people. To ignore this invocation is a violation of the U.S. Supremacy Clause. Documentation of this PUBLIC NOTICE of this Treaty of Truce was personally delivered to Robert Fenton, Mark Wingate and Colonel Curry on Monday, December 18, 2023 at the Lahaina Civic Center for their review and conveyance to upper command. We do not agree to the disposal site at Olowalu and expect justice according to the rule of law.
(see U.S. Constitution Article VI Supremacy Clause; and Amendments I, IX, & X)
Aloha.
I support the temporary disposition site of Olowalu with the need for a specified time frame for temporary and also onsite environmental monitoring during the entirety.
I also encourage the council to push the administration to provide a fact sheet with all the information and data sets be posted either to Maui recovers or another platform for our west Maui community members to view and make informed decisions.
I come to this extremely hard decision from a place within our community knowing the repercussions if we don’t move forward within a timely manner. The most important first and for most is the mental health within our community. I feel as though any sort of delay in the start of debris removal will directly affect our communities mental health. The need to start the forward motion is absolutely urgent, with families moving off island daily, we need to give our community a step forward and not one backwards.
Also to be mentioned is the detrimental effects that leaving the burn zone as is with upcoming winter storms, could impact our coastal waters on the entirety of the west side. Leaving the debris for months while this is redetermined will also affect our current community members and keiki living and going to school just steps away from the burn zone.
Also to be noted fema rental assistance will end within 18 months since the fire and can not be extended at which time I fear more and more community members will be leaving if there isn’t a forward motion of things. Also fema funding for the debris removal if I’m correct will end after a certain time frame. The detrimental affects of pushing this for months and getting ourselves in a situation where funding runs out could affect our west side for generations.
While the need to think about future generations is apparent, I urge the council to think about the present needs for our west side community. If we don’t take care of these issues now, there won’t be anything left of us to continue. The containment and protection of the debris at a temporary site with ongoing monitoring is absolutely necessary to continue this forward motion. Then in the next few months the community as a whole can continue the dialogue of permanent sites for the debris.
I support the TEMPORARY storage of ash in Olowalu. The priority should be to get the poisonous ash contained asap rather than leave it out in the open any longer than we have to for it to blow in the wind and poison the whole coastline. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! The longer we debate, the more damage is being done. Lets get it all to the nearby dump asap and put it in the safest container that is possible and practicable. Then lets figure out where it needs to be long term. The Olowalu site is temporary so why are we arguing about possible long term effects there when school children, residents, and the entire shoreline are being poisoned now.
Aloha DRIP committee,
I am vehemently opposed to the proposed Olowalu toxic debris disposition site. The required environmental impact statement, geological or archeological assessments should not have been suspended.. The EPA has not ever had temporary toxic debris sites, nor have they constructed sites over underground aquafers . Like most community members, I am concerned of the contaminants including volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, heavy metals, polychlorinated dioxins and furans, all of which are hazardous to human health and marine life. If there was ever an incident of leaking, it would have irrevocable consequences. In fact, the EPA has concluded more than 30 years ago that all landfills eventually leak. That’s because liners can fail and systems to collect the toxins, called leachate, can crack, collapse or otherwise malfunction. The EPA confirmed last month that this remains the agency’s position. Back in 2017, the Olowalu reef was declared a Mission Blue Hope Spot for its rich diversity of rare and unique coral species. The reef “acts as a nursery to replenish and populate the reefs of Maui, Molokai and Lanai,” according to Mission Blue, a global ocean protection organization founded by Sylvia Earle, a legendary oceanographer. Olowalu’s nearshore waters host the country’s largest population of manta rays and a world-class reef system and is also known as a whale sanctuary area. The proposed site is a few hundred yards from the ocean which will be further over time be affected by sea level rise. I implore you to choose an alternate site. We cannot afford the slightest of risk
Dear Maui Council
It is heartbreaking that in the name of expedition you have chosen to dismiss and attempt avoid the most significant aspects of environmental safety and cultural respect!Your disregard for what you have learned, will doom the safety and security of all, for eternity, and forever!
Not a momentary mistake but a forever one, dismissing all the legal requirements necessitated by you, for all to comply with except you, the creators! Providing an example, which you would turn around and rightfully deny others!
If you really don’t care about our precious ocean and coral, and are willing to turn your back on the disrespect you will cause our Hawaiian culture you don’t deserve our respect or your elected positions! It’s that serious!!
Sincerely,
Valerie Lasciak
Does the government only offer the 1960s era containerization innovation on the 40' containers? Are there no modern 50' or whatever size container innovations available that are aerodynamic or lighter aluminum or similar materials that the government cannot provide? I’m sure China must have invented one by now. Is it not feasible to get the top loader style container so that we could fill almost completely with or without the burrito wrapping since you could bypass that and load debris up directly with backhoes and similar machines straight into the top of the container box and fill it to almost full capacity quickly and easily? Also, does the 400,000 cubic yards of debris spoken about, is that what is left after all the EPA hazardous debris has been removed? How is that number accumulated by? a break down available to the community would be appreciated.
I also wanted to note that the largest container barge on our Ocean is approximately 300’ Long x 100’ Wide, which we know is large but is also carrying between 5,000 to 15,000 - 40’ containers on average. To me that much space for that many containers on a site to clear all toxic debris does not seem that large to me. As an example, our Kahului harbor port carries approximately 1000 - 40’ containers at any one time on average.
This is the U.S. Government we are talking about, why supply chain and funding is even considered the largest issue is outrageous with the millions of available funding that State legislator could request/fight for, for one of the top tourism locations in the United States is mind blowing to me. As we stand aside and spend 400 million of our State tax dollars on building a new sports arena in Honolulu? Maybe we should load all the debris in there? Where are our priorities? we don't even have a NFL football team to support? Where are the private investors and why aren't they stepping up to the plate to help alleviate these cost? Mahalo for listening.
Can we have a written answer on why olowalu was ever an option on why it should be a TDS?
Does the Governor emergency proclamation exempt a Federal 106 since funding is Federal?
Aloha,
My family and I support the TEMPORARY disposition site at Olowalu. We own and lived in the burn zone, are kanaka maoli, and are still paying mortgage on a home that does not exist.
Insurance is insufficient to pay mortgage and a rental for our family (2 children under 3 years old), so we are couch surfing while trying to provide a stable life for our children. If we cannot rebuild within the projected timeline (2-3 years), then we will be forced to sell at a loss and move to the mainland (4 less Native Hawaiians in Hawaii). We have our own non-tourism related business, in an effort to diversify the local economy, which is needed as well.
Our heart breaks at the difficult decisions being made, but are hopeful that once the debris is cleared and rebuilding can begin- that the county acquires the adjacent lot to the Central Maui landfill (mentioned in previous DRIP meeting), and that be the final resting site for our destroyed property.
We must keep vigilant to monitor and hold county/ state accountable to be pro-active in the establishment of the final site in Central Maui, away from the aquifers, reef and higher water table.
Ke Akua pu a hui hou.
The EPA has not ever had temporary toxic debris sites, nor have they constructed sites over underground aquifers. There is no supporting ecological or environmental studies proving that there will be no ramifications by dumping this toxic debris at olowalu. The best resolution is to get it off island to an EPA approved location. This will be another decision made by the government where we look back in 50 years and say, “look what has happened to the land, the water, and the reef and how that’s affected the people of Maui, this never should have been done.”
Strongly oppose
Aloha,
I apologize for copy and paste, but this is exactly how I feel. I live and work in Lahaina
I support the temporary disposition site of Olowalu with the need for a specified time frame for temporary and also onsite environmental monitoring during the entirety.
I also encourage the council to push the administration to provide a fact sheet with all the information and data sets be posted either to Maui recovers or another platform for our west Maui community members to view and make informed decisions.
I come to this extremely hard decision from a place within our community knowing the repercussions if we don’t move forward within a timely manner. The most important first and for most is the mental health within our community. I feel as though any sort of delay in the start of debris removal will directly affect our communities mental health. The need to start the forward motion is absolutely urgent, with families moving off island daily, we need to give our community a step forward and not one backwards.
Also to be mentioned is the detrimental effects that leaving the burn zone as is with upcoming winter storms, could impact our coastal waters on the entirety of the west side. Leaving the debris for months while this is redetermined will also affect our current community members and keiki living and going to school just steps away from the burn zone.
Also to be noted fema rental assistance will end within 18 months since the fire and can not be extended at which time I fear more and more community members will be leaving if there isn’t a forward motion of things. Also fema funding for the debris removal if I’m correct will end after a certain time frame. The detrimental affects of pushing this for months and getting ourselves in a situation where funding runs out could affect our west side for generations.
While the need to think about future generations is apparent, I urge the council to think about the present needs for our west side community. If we don’t take care of these issues now, there won’t be anything left of us to continue. The containment and protection of the debris at a temporary site with ongoing monitoring is absolutely necessary to continue this forward motion. Then in the next few months the community as a whole can continue the dialogue of permanent sites for the debris.person says it exactly as I see it. We need to move forward
Testimony from 1/2/24 shows many options for containment on site that could start now for Lahaina.
Drone footage does show stacking of stones at the temporary site, and was submitted into testimony for public record.
The contract by which the State gave permission to Maui County to develop a hazardous waste facility.
The contract by which the State gave land use permission for excavating the Olowalu mountain (Exhibit 1, p4. item 14) reads:
"In the event any unanticipated sites or remains such as bone or charcoal deposits, human burials, rock or coral alignments, pavings or walls are encountered the APPLICANT, it's consultants, contractors and/or persons acting for or on it's behalf shall stop work and contact the State Historic Preservations Division in Kapolei at (808) 692-8015 immediately."
Item 15 reads:
"In the event any historic properties or burial sites, as defined in section 6E-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, are found on premises, the APPLICANT and its agents, employees, and representatives shall immediately stop all land utilization or work or both and contact the Historic Preservation Office in compliance with chapter 6E, Hawaii Revised Statutes."
The Olowalu site is too ecologically fragile to risk as even a temporary site. Encapsulate remains of dearly departed and memorialize on site. Acquire appurtenant land to central landfill to process debris using new tech bioremediation techniques there. Restrict road travel during overnight hours to transport debris then. Learn from past environmental disasters. Don’t “cut off Olowalu’s nose to spite Lahaina’s face” so to speak.
Respectfully,
Tamara Griffiths
Lahaina, HI
DECLARATION OF RIGHTS by Kamehameha III at Lahaina, Maui, October 8, 1840:
DECLARATION OF RIGHTS, BOTH OF THE PEOPLE & CHIEFS.
"God hath made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on the earth," in unity and blessedness. God has also bestowed certain rights alike on all men and all chiefs, and all people of all lands. These are some of the rights which He has given alike to every man and every chief of correct deportment; life, limb, liberty, freedom from oppression; the earnings of his hands and the productions of his mind, not however to those who act in violation of the laws. God has also established government, and rule, for the purpose of peace; but in making laws for the nation it is by no means proper to enact laws for the protection of the rulers only, without also providing protection for their subjects; neither is it proper to enact laws to enrich the chiefs only, without regard to enriching their subjects also, and hereafter there shall by no means be any laws enacted which are at variance with what is above expressed, neither shall any tax be assessed, nor any service or labor required of any man, in a manner which is at variance with the above sentiments.
PROTECTION FOR THE PEOPLE DECLARED.
The above sentiments are hereby published for the purpose of protecting alike, both the people and the chiefs of all these islands, while they maintain a correct deportment; that no chief may be able to oppress any subject, but that chiefs and people may enjoy the same protection, under one and the same law. Protection is hereby secured to the persons of all the people, together with their lands, their building lots, and all their property, while they conform to the laws of the kingdom, and nothing whatever shall be taken from any individual except by express provision of the laws. Whatever chief shall act perseveringly in violation of this constitution, shall no longer remain a chief of the Hawaiian Islands, and the same shall be true of the Governors officers, and all land agents. But if anyone who is deposed should change his course and regulate his conduct by law, it shall then be in the power of the chiefs to reinstate him in the place he occupied previous to his being deposed.”
PUBLIC NOTICE
TREATY OF TRUCE
PURSUANT TO THE LAW OF NATIONS
LAW OF WAR
“I, Liliuokalani by the Grace of God and under the Constitution of the Hawaiian Kingdom Queen do hereby solemnly protest against any and all acts done against myself and the constitutional government of the Hawaiian Kingdom by certain persons claiming to have established a provisional government of and for this Kingdom.
That I yield to the superior force of the United States of America whose Minister Plenipotentiary His Excellency John L. Stevens has caused United States troops to be landed at Honolulu and declared that he would support the said provisional government.
Now to avoid any collision of armed forces and perhaps the loss of life I do under this protest and impelled by said force yield my authority until such time as the Government of the United States shall upon the facts being presented to it undo the action of its Representative and reinstate me in the authority which I claim as the constitutional sovereign of the Hawaiian Islands.
Done at Honolulu this seventeenth day of January, A.D. 1893.”
Liliuokalani R.
Samuel Parker, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
William H. Cornwell, Minister of Finance.
John F. Colburn, Minister of Interior.
A.P. Peterson, Attorney-General.
This Treaty of Truce between the Government of the United States and the Queen of the Hawaiian Islands, concluded to establish a suspension of hostilities in order, “...to avoid any collision of armed forces, and perhaps the loss of life…”, and bar any unlawful claim against the Hawaiian Kingdom and its dependencies. It constitutes a supreme law of the land, and is sustained by articles and amendments to the US Constitution to which Maui County and the State of Hawaii are bound to uphold. It is an invocation of the Law of War entered to bar any and all acts of hostility against the Hawaiian Islands and its people. To ignore this invocation is a violation of the U.S. Supremacy Clause. Documentation of this PUBLIC NOTICE of this Treaty of Truce was personally delivered to Robert Fenton, Mark Wingate and Colonel Curry on Monday, December 18, 2023 at the Lahaina Civic Center for their review and conveyance to upper command. We do not agree to the disposal site at Olowalu and expect justice according to the rule of law.
(see U.S. Constitution Article VI Supremacy Clause; and Amendments I, IX, & X)
Aloha.
I support the temporary disposition site of Olowalu with the need for a specified time frame for temporary and also onsite environmental monitoring during the entirety.
I also encourage the council to push the administration to provide a fact sheet with all the information and data sets be posted either to Maui recovers or another platform for our west Maui community members to view and make informed decisions.
I come to this extremely hard decision from a place within our community knowing the repercussions if we don’t move forward within a timely manner. The most important first and for most is the mental health within our community. I feel as though any sort of delay in the start of debris removal will directly affect our communities mental health. The need to start the forward motion is absolutely urgent, with families moving off island daily, we need to give our community a step forward and not one backwards.
Also to be mentioned is the detrimental effects that leaving the burn zone as is with upcoming winter storms, could impact our coastal waters on the entirety of the west side. Leaving the debris for months while this is redetermined will also affect our current community members and keiki living and going to school just steps away from the burn zone.
Also to be noted fema rental assistance will end within 18 months since the fire and can not be extended at which time I fear more and more community members will be leaving if there isn’t a forward motion of things. Also fema funding for the debris removal if I’m correct will end after a certain time frame. The detrimental affects of pushing this for months and getting ourselves in a situation where funding runs out could affect our west side for generations.
While the need to think about future generations is apparent, I urge the council to think about the present needs for our west side community. If we don’t take care of these issues now, there won’t be anything left of us to continue. The containment and protection of the debris at a temporary site with ongoing monitoring is absolutely necessary to continue this forward motion. Then in the next few months the community as a whole can continue the dialogue of permanent sites for the debris.
Mahalo
I support the TEMPORARY storage of ash in Olowalu. The priority should be to get the poisonous ash contained asap rather than leave it out in the open any longer than we have to for it to blow in the wind and poison the whole coastline. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! The longer we debate, the more damage is being done. Lets get it all to the nearby dump asap and put it in the safest container that is possible and practicable. Then lets figure out where it needs to be long term. The Olowalu site is temporary so why are we arguing about possible long term effects there when school children, residents, and the entire shoreline are being poisoned now.
Aloha DRIP committee,
I am vehemently opposed to the proposed Olowalu toxic debris disposition site. The required environmental impact statement, geological or archeological assessments should not have been suspended.. The EPA has not ever had temporary toxic debris sites, nor have they constructed sites over underground aquafers . Like most community members, I am concerned of the contaminants including volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, heavy metals, polychlorinated dioxins and furans, all of which are hazardous to human health and marine life. If there was ever an incident of leaking, it would have irrevocable consequences. In fact, the EPA has concluded more than 30 years ago that all landfills eventually leak. That’s because liners can fail and systems to collect the toxins, called leachate, can crack, collapse or otherwise malfunction. The EPA confirmed last month that this remains the agency’s position. Back in 2017, the Olowalu reef was declared a Mission Blue Hope Spot for its rich diversity of rare and unique coral species. The reef “acts as a nursery to replenish and populate the reefs of Maui, Molokai and Lanai,” according to Mission Blue, a global ocean protection organization founded by Sylvia Earle, a legendary oceanographer. Olowalu’s nearshore waters host the country’s largest population of manta rays and a world-class reef system and is also known as a whale sanctuary area. The proposed site is a few hundred yards from the ocean which will be further over time be affected by sea level rise. I implore you to choose an alternate site. We cannot afford the slightest of risk
Dear Maui Council
It is heartbreaking that in the name of expedition you have chosen to dismiss and attempt avoid the most significant aspects of environmental safety and cultural respect!Your disregard for what you have learned, will doom the safety and security of all, for eternity, and forever!
Not a momentary mistake but a forever one, dismissing all the legal requirements necessitated by you, for all to comply with except you, the creators! Providing an example, which you would turn around and rightfully deny others!
If you really don’t care about our precious ocean and coral, and are willing to turn your back on the disrespect you will cause our Hawaiian culture you don’t deserve our respect or your elected positions! It’s that serious!!
Sincerely,
Valerie Lasciak