Bill Text: HI HR73 | 2013 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Critical Habitat Designation; United States Department of the Interior; Fish and Wildlife Service; County of Maui
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2013-04-04 - Resolution adopted in final form. [HR73 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2013-HR73-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.R. NO. |
73 |
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TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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HOUSE RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE TO WORK WITH AFFECTED PERSONS AND COUNTIES IN ESTABLISHING CRITICAL HABITAT DESIGNATIONS FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES IN THE STATE.
WHEREAS, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service has recently proposed to designate 271,062 acres in Maui County as critical habitat for endangered species, which is more than double the amount of critical habitat already designated on the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and Kahoolawe; and
WHEREAS, on Maui, more than 190,000 acres are proposed for Critical Habitat Designation, which is equivalent to about 41 percent of the total land area of Maui; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Critical Habitat Designation has the potential to adversely affect landowners and hurt the relationship between the county and the federal government; and
WHEREAS, some of the proposed areas for Critical Habitat Designation are state-owned parcels that may be leased to farmers and ranchers, and some are within irrigation water lease areas, raising the concern about diminished availability of irrigation water, which is especially important in this time of severe drought; and
WHEREAS, the economic impact to Maui County may have been greatly underestimated by federal officials; and
WHEREAS, even though significant portions of many
Maui County farms and ranches are being proposed for designation, many of these
farmers and ranchers were not adequately notified of the proposed designation
by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and
WHEREAS, in determining which properties are proposed for Critical Habitat
Designation, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service has acknowledged that
it did not make specific determinations as to whether endangered species are
located on the properties or whether the properties have the biological
elements necessary to support endangered species; and
WHEREAS, farmers, ranchers, hunters, and others who may be affected by Critical Habitat Designation are not opposed to designating critical habitat for endangered species in appropriate areas such as public lands that are set aside to provide for preservation or rehabilitation, or private lands where the landowner voluntarily agrees to the designation; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2013, that the United States Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service is requested to work with affected persons and counties in establishing Critical Habitat Designations for endangered species in the State; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the members of Hawaii's Congressional Delegation; Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior; Governor; Mayor of the County of Maui; Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu; Mayor of the County of Hawaii; Mayor of the County of Kauai; Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources; and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
Critical Habitat Designation; United States Department of the Interior; Fish and Wildlife Service; County of Maui
