DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES

News Release

LINDA LINGLE

GOVERNOR

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ALLAN A. SMITH, INTERIM CHAIRPERSON

Phone: (808) 587-0401

Fax: (808) 587-0390

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release: June 26, 2007

DLNR Holds Public Hearing On Proposed Rules
For Ballast Water Management

HONOLULU -- The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will hold a public hearing on Thursday, June 28 to establish new regulations for all oceanic vessels coming to Hawai‘i with ballast water holds that may contain alien aquatic species which could pose a threat to Hawai‘i’s native species.

“Alien aquatic species pose one of the greatest threats to Hawai‘i's waters and coral reefs. They have the potential to harm our marine ecosystem, negatively impact Hawai‘i’s economy and pose serious public health problems,” said Allan Smith, DLNR interim chairperson.

“Every day, large ships and barges come to Hawai‘i. These vessels carry ballast water to provide stability to ships. History has shown that ballast water has been one of the primary methods for alien aquatic species introductions throughout the world,” said Smith.

“We are proposing measures to protect Hawai‘i’s valuable and fragile marine ecosystem through the adoption of administrative rules that would require vessels coming to Hawaii to have a ballast management plan and report their ballast water operations to the state,” he said. “These state laws are complementary to federal laws already established for ballast water management.”

The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 28, 2007, at the Kalanimoku state office building, 1151 Punchbowl St. in the DLNR Boardroom room 132 in Honolulu.

All interested persons are urged to attend the public hearing to present relevant information and individual opinion for the DLNR to consider. Persons unable to attend or wishing to present additional comments, may mail written testimony by Friday, July 13, 2007 to the Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), 1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 330, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813.

The proposed draft rules in Hawai‘i Administrative rule Chapter 13-76 can be viewed online at the Division of Aquatic Resources website at http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/notices.htm

For further information, or to obtain a copy of the proposed rule changes, contact the Division of Aquatic Resources at 587-1000, or write to the above address.

Anyone with a hearing impairment who desires to attend the public hearing may request assistance of a sign language interpreter. The request may be made in writing (to the DAR address in the preceding paragraph), or by calling 587-0100 (voice or TDD) in Honolulu.

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For more information, contact:
Deborah Ward
DLNR Public Information Specialist
Phone: (808) 587-0320