Letter to the Editor
September 7, 2007
FERRY UNDERESTIMATED RISK OF ITS
DECISIONS
"Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive."
This phrase can easily be applied to the Superferry.
Among other things, the Superferry folks knew three or four years ago
that:
An environmental review would be necessary — the use of taxpayer money
to improve harbors is a trigger under HRS Chapter 343.
The potential transport of alien species was inevitable, and the state
already spends millions of dollars each year on eradication.
The impact on marine life, especially humpback whales, must be analyzed.
The Superferry folks decided to take the political route instead.
In an Aug. 29 story in The Advertiser, the governor's quote is quite
revealing: "So there's a lot of harm that could occur if we're not
allowed to continue to move forward and let them use our harbors and if
they're not allowed to continue to operate."
Hawaii Superferry knew an environmental review was necessary to analyze
the impact of the project on our fragile resources.
The Hawai'i Supreme Court ruled that an environmental review must be
done.
But in defiance of our Supreme Court, Hawaii Superferry moved up the
start date and flaunted our laws — the company underestimated the risk
when it challenged our laws.
Kat Brady
Honolulu
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Sep/07/op/hawaii709070322.html