17. Prohibit Sewage Dumping in Hawaiian Islands Humpback
Whale National Marine Sanctuary

WHEREAS the waters of the Whale and Marine Sanctuary are shallow, calm, protected waters, and are the critical habitat in winter months to the endangered North Pacific humpback whales and other endangered and protected species, including, but not limited to green sea turtles, hawksbill sea turtles, monk seals; and

WHEREAS the economy of the State of Hawai`i’s benefited by the tourist industry which relies upon the ocean's resources including the waters within the Whale and Marine Sanctuary; and

WHEREAS the impact of human utilization of the ocean resource within the Whale and Marine Sanctuary has increased dramatically in recent years, and

WHEREAS the County of Maui has declared, by unanimous Council Resolution No. 06-10, adopted February 17, 2006, that it is imperative that dumping of raw sewage and chemical contaminants into our ocean cease immediately, and that our precious marine ecosystem, which our residents and tourist industry cherish and depend on, be protected; and

WHEREAS governmental agencies, have received increased numbers of complaints from Hawai`i residents and tourists about the practice of tour boat operators dumping concentrated human sewage into the waters of the Whale and Marine Sanctuary; and

WHEREAS the State of Hawai`i has provided permanent facilities at certain other harbors in or adjacent to the Whale and Marine Sanctuary and prohibited the dumping of most vessel sewage within state waters, and

WHEREAS the sewage dumped in federal waters within the Whale and Marine Sanctuary has impact on the health, welfare and enjoyment of the residents and visitors to Hawai`i, and

WHEREAS the United States government can and should prohibit dumping sewage into the waters of the Whale and Marine Sanctuary by rule-making pursuant to the enabling legislation authorizing and creating the Whale and Marine Sanctuary (The National Marine Sanctuaries Act, U.S.C. 1431 et seq., as amended, and the Hawaiian Islands National Marine Sanctuary Act subtitle C, title II, Pub. L. 102-587, as amended); now

BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Maui advocates protection of Whale and Marine Sanctuary,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED That it hereby respectfully requests the United States to prohibit dumping of sewage within the boundaries of the Whale and Marine Sanctuary, and That it hereby respectfully requests the Manager of the Whale and Marine Sanctuary initiate rule making procedures to consider rules to prohibit the dumping of sewage within the boundaries of the Whale and Marine Sanctuary.