Ocean Policy Task Force

For some time now, I've been harping on the need for a Hawaii Coastal Commission or joint State/Counties Task Force to oversee shoreline management. This week it was announced that the Obama Administration is recommending the creation of a National Ocean Council to coordinate and oversee "myriad federal agencies in conservation and marine planning efforts."

Why? Because ocean policy is being done in a "piecemeal basis"... just as in Hawaii, where public beach access, shoreline setbacks, ocean-related commercial activities, are all regulated (or not) in the very same piecemeal fashion.

But the proposal for creating a task force that could pave the way for a Hawaii Coastal Commission got shot down by people like the DLNR's Sam Lemmo! The UH Sea Grant people didn't give us any support either. Yet they complain about the difficulties in dealing with split jurisdiction between the State and counties. So what's their alternative plan to create a better, more efficient system of shoreline management?

Here's the link to the AP article on the National Ocean Council proposal. Gee, isn't it nice to have a president and officials who use some common sense in streamlining agencies for efficiency, instead of simply ignoring environmental issues such as sea-level rise and industrial pollution? Of course some wing-nut will scream that this is socialism.

UPDATE: Better article from the New York Times...

"The Obama administration called Thursday for a comprehensive national system for regulating the use of federal waters along the nation’s marine and Great Lakes shores, now administered by a hodgepodge of federal, state or other agencies with often-conflicting goals..."

From our allies on the North Shore of Oahu, comes this urgent appeal below. Plans to develop the Turtle Bay resort could have an adverse impact on shoreline access in that area...

The Honolulu Advertiser’s wrote in today’s editorial, “Court should clarify worth of years-old EIS”

If the high court decides to take the appeal, as it should, the state will get clearer direction of how environmental law should apply to development that has languished on the drawing boards for years.

And although the Kuilima Resort Co. project is at the center of this case, there are other projects with environmental impact statements prepared long ago. The original proposal for Makena Resort on Maui, for example, was based on an EIS completed in 1974.

It is not right that the developers should be allowed to begin development 20 or 200 years after an EIS is accepted without having to reconsider potential impacts. Keep the North Shore Country and Sierra Club have been seeking a Supplemental EIS for the Turtle Bay Resort in the courts since 2006. If the Supreme Court does not accept the case, our challenge of the environmental review will probably be over.

Meanwhile, Stanford Carr continues to press ahead with the expansion plan and continues to seek final subdivision approval from the City and County of Honolulu. They are very close.

We are near the end of the process. Now is the time to speak up!

This editorial gives you an excellent opportunity to share your concerns about the Turtle Bay Resort Expansion Plan and the City’s refusal to order a supplemental EIS. Please take a moment to send your comments to the Letters to the Editor and also post an on-line comment. Letters to the Editor are more effective.

Advertiser Letters to the Editor Include your name and contact information so they can confirm your identity and publish your letter.

You can read all of the court filings and follow the action at www.KeepTheNorthShoreCountry.org

Mahalo,
Gil Riviere
Keep the North Shore Country

Mainland Beach Access Cases

Not much local news to report, since the Hawaii State Legislature and Honolulu City Council are more concerned about tax revenue shortfalls than matters such as shoreline access or environmental issues. So our most valuable natural resource -- the ocean and beaches of Hawaii -- are being neglected while plans are being put into place to have residents and visitors "pay to play"... things like increasing the cost for metered parking at popular surfing spots, increasing camping permit fees, and so on.

Some of those steps are probably necessary though, and if the money goes to improving and maintaining facilities and beach parks, well, that's all right with me. But crucial things like shoreline building setbacks are being ignored as "seaward creep" by beachfront homeowners is becoming a visible problem on Kailua Beach! Does anyone care? Not enough, apparently.

On the mainland, however, there are important court cases in Texas and Florida that could set precedents for public beach access throughout the country. Unfortunately, our ever-shrinking local news media doesn't cover issues like this unless we wave protest signs at a rally... or someone files a lawsuit.

Here's the link to activist Rob Nixon's blog, Waiting for the Next Swell, which recaps the legal implications of the Texas and Florida cases.

From Rob's post on the subject:

2009 may very well go down as THE pivotal year for Public Beaches and Public Beach Access in the United States. Starting in November, three very important public beach issues will come up for decision in Texas and Florida. What is at stake is no less than the public's right to access and use the beaches of these states. The decisions on these issues by the voters and the courts may also have an impact on all the coastal states of the United States as they will definitely set precedent for future challenges and cases....