http://action.sierraclub.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=67401.0

Court Rules for Clean Air
Reverses Bush Administration Rollback

In Sierra Club vs. Environmental Protection Agency, the DC Circuit Court today struck down a Bush administration rule limiting states’ ability to enforce the Clean Air Act. The rule blocked states from issuing their own air monitoring requirements for soot, smog, mercury and other types of air pollution from power plants, factories and other stationary sources. As a result states were forced to abide by the lax federal standards, which required virtually no monitoring of dangerous air pollution.

In response the Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope issued the following statement.

"This is huge victory against one of the most egregious rollbacks of environmental protections in our nation’s history.

"As one of the first rollbacks of the Bush Administration, this rule helped set a pattern of limiting the application of environmental laws to benefit polluters and denying the public the right know about pollution in their communities.

"Public health should be a top priority, not polluters’ profits. Today’s decision will give states back the tools they need to hold polluters accountable and help ensure that everyone has clean, healthy air to breathe."

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The following appeared in TGI opinion page 8/18 but highlights the effectiveness of grassroots volunteerism on Kaua`i.

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Surfrider volunteers came through

A great big mahalo to Sheri Saari and the volunteers of the Surfrider Foundation for the clean-up of the forested area adjacent to Lumaha’i Beach.

During a hike through the area earlier this year, I was saddened to see huge amounts of rubbish all over the wooded area left there by campers and party-goers.

After making several inquiries about beach maintenance with local county agencies, my concern was referred to the Surfrider Foundation by Thomas Noyes of The Friends of Kamalani and Lydgate Park.

Surfrider volunteers came through. They collected and hauled away truckloads of rubbish from the area. The efforts of these volunteer organizations help keep Kaua‘i the Garden Island paradise that it is.

Chris Bischoff
San Jose, Calif.

Public input on HHSC sought today (8/19)

by The Garden Island

Members of the state Legislature will meet at 5 p.m. today at the Kaua‘i High School cafeteria on Lala Road in Lihu‘e to discuss the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, a state news release says.

The HHSC recently informed House and Senate members that they are facing a roughly $62 million shortfall by the end of the next fiscal year (June 30, 2009).
*

For FY 2009, HHSC will receive a general fund subsidy of $53.6 million. Its annual expenditure for FY 2009 is estimated to be about $400 million from its special fund.

Prior to the 2008 legislative session, HHSC requested from Gov. Linda Lingle an emergency appropriation of $14 million for FY 2008 and a $57 million supplemental budget request for FY 2009.

The governor provided the emergency request, but denied the supplemental request. The Legislature provided the $14 million emergency appropriation, but could not provide any supplemental appropriation as the Legislature reduced all state department budgets by about 4 percent, totaling $45 million. HHSC was spared from the 4 percent budget reduction.

However, in recent weeks, the governor has announced she intends to restrict at least 4 percent of the subsidy provided to HHSC facilities’ operations, the press release says. HHSC and its regions have announced a variety of measures to address the impending revenue shortfall.

Among other issues the Joint Committee will explore are the following:

Public input on HHSC sought today (8/19)

by The Garden Island

Members of the state Legislature will meet at 5 p.m. today at the Kaua‘i High School cafeteria on Lala Road in Lihu‘e to discuss the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, a state news release says.

The HHSC recently informed House and Senate members that they are facing a roughly $62 million shortfall by the end of the next fiscal year (June 30, 2009).
*

For FY 2009, HHSC will receive a general fund subsidy of $53.6 million. Its annual expenditure for FY 2009 is estimated to be about $400 million from its special fund.

Prior to the 2008 legislative session, HHSC requested from Gov. Linda Lingle an emergency appropriation of $14 million for FY 2008 and a $57 million supplemental budget request for FY 2009.

The governor provided the emergency request, but denied the supplemental request. The Legislature provided the $14 million emergency appropriation, but could not provide any supplemental appropriation as the Legislature reduced all state department budgets by about 4 percent, totaling $45 million. HHSC was spared from the 4 percent budget reduction.

However, in recent weeks, the governor has announced she intends to restrict at least 4 percent of the subsidy provided to HHSC facilities’ operations, the press release says. HHSC and its regions have announced a variety of measures to address the impending revenue shortfall.

Among other issues the Joint Committee will explore are the following:

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080817/NE...

Hawaii plan tackles public housing crisis

'Turnaround plan' in works critical as emergency concerns mount

By Mary Vorsino
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer

As far back as the early 1970s, lawmakers, advocates and residents were decrying backlogged maintenance, deteriorating buildings and rising crime at public housing projects statewide.
Advertisement

Today, after years of little action, failed oversight and inadequate funding, the crisis has become increasingly acute, with an estimated $320 million in backlogged capital needs, more than 500 vacant units awaiting repairs and a host of emergency maintenance concerns, from no or intermittent hot water, to sewer lines that back up, to elevators that don't work.

"If something is reported to them to be repaired," said Petina Rios, a resident at Wahiawa Terrace, "they always give an excuse they don't have money."

The mounting issues — made more critical given the dearth of affordable housing in the Islands and that some 8,000 people are waiting to get into public housing — threaten to render public housing ineffective as a safety net for families facing homelessness and as a decent place for poor families to work their way out of poverty.

http://www.kauaiworld.com/articles/2008/08/15/news/news03.txt

Series: Part 1 - Property tax system reform work gets underway

by Nathan Eagle - THE GARDEN ISLAND

The county is striving to reform its real property tax system in a way that is fair, clear and simple.

The goal is to accomplish the county’s overall policies — such as fostering affordable housing, preserving the island’s rural character and promoting agriculture — through tax incentives.
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After working on the proposed package with stakeholder groups for more than a year, administrative officials in July transmitted the revenue neutral bill to the Kaua‘i County Council for approval.

The 147-page document contains sweeping changes to the current system. The bill proposes cutting the number of tax classes in half, implementing tax rates based more on use than zoning and significantly increasing homeowner exemptions while doing away with caps.

The seven-member lawmaking body must pass the legislation by Aug. 27 for the administration to have enough time to implement the changes to affect next year’s tax roll, county officials said.

With only two regularly scheduled meetings between now and then, the council must act quickly and decisively if it is to meet that deadline.

There was a public hearing at 1:30 p.m. yesterday at the Historic County Building. The council heard testimony for more than two hours on portions of the bill ranging from timeshares to homesteads.

http://www.kauaiworld.com/articles/2008/08/15/news/news01.txt

Input sought on Nawiliwili pollution

by Dennis Fujimoto - THE GARDEN ISLAND

NAWILIWILI — Clean water is everyone’s kuleana and the state Department of Health is waiting until Sept. 2 so the public can be involved in the decision-making process involving Total Maximum Daily Loads.

David Penn, the TMDL coordinator from the DOH, conducted a public information meeting Wednesday night at the Niumalu Park pavilion involving representatives of the various state agencies, conservation and environmental groups and community residents.

Early assessment of Nawiliwili Bay, visual inspections of streams and information identified several areas where water quality is “limited” or “impaired,” states a handout distributed at the meeting.

These include areas at Huleia, Papakolea, Puali and Nawiliwili Stream which has limitations including excessive sediment, excessive nitrogen, excessive phosphorus and excessive levels of indicator bacteria, or enterococcus, in all four streams.

TMDLs are being established to help reduce pollutant loads resulting in improved water quality and increasing the public’s ability to enjoy legally-protected uses such as recreation, aesthetic enjoyment, ecosystem protection and native breeding.

In order to satisfy federal Clean Water Act requirements, several agencies collaboratively are working to conduct a federally funded water quality planning process for four major streams that flow into Nawiliwili Bay.

http://www.kauaiworld.com/articles/2008/08/15/news/news02.txt

Judge upholds Wainiha construction again

by Blake Jones - The Garden Island

Fifth Circuit Judge Kathleen Watanabe yesterday affirmed that construction may continue at the Wainiha homesite known to contain at least 30 iwi, or graves, while attorneys for the property owner, state and protesters named in a related lawsuit debate a preliminary injunction.

At the end of the hearing yesterday, which will continue Sept. 3, Watanabe denied a last-minute motion from the protesters’ attorney to temporarily halt building until the next court date.

The judge declined the temporary restraining order request, made by the Native Hawaiian Legal Corp. on behalf of two of its Kaua‘i clients, because the foundation for the home in question is already completed and no further disruption to the ground is anticipated. She also put an end to a previously agreed-upon break in construction, in place since Tuesday.

Watanabe reminded the court that she denied an earlier TRO request July 28 for the same reason.

About two dozen concrete pilings are in place at Joseph Brescia’s 18,000-square-foot beachfront property, none of which sit on top of the known iwi, according to the state.

“There’s no risk of additional earth movement,” Watanabe said.

inunyabusgmail.com">inunyabusgmail.com
Aloha all,
To anyone that could help by filling out this simple request for a historical designation, maybe Coco Palms and even Bresciaʻs development can be halted. This is a great form, easy to fill out and should be very effective. If there are other places, which I know there are, that you want to include please submit them. Hereʻs the link:
http://www.historichawaii.org/MostEndangered/MostEndangered_2008.html

Aloha,

Please join your friends on the path for Kauai Path's Second Saturday
Sweep of Ke Ala Hele Makalae on Saturday July 12th with a potluck lunch
to follow.

Volunteers meet at 8:30 AM at the rest pavilion makai of the Kapaa
Neighborhood Center, we should be pau by 11:30 AM.

Participants are asked to bring brooms, gloves, shoes, hat, drinking
water, and a pot luck lunch item.

See attached flier for more information.

Please feel free to contact me at 639-4561 or by e-mail with any
comments or questions.

Mahalo,

Brett Ishida