HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

307

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

URGING THE HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NOT to INSPECT or RELEASE ANY AIRline CARGO of an airline that does not regularly pay the inspection, quarantine, and eradication service fee and charge for that cargo.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, an invasive species is a harmful non-indigenous plant, animal, insect, or disease agent that enters the State's borders; and

 

     WHEREAS, if left uncontrolled, invasive species can devastate Hawaii’s agricultural industry, natural environment, economy, public health, and threaten the dwindling number of endangered species in Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment, and the United States Department of Interior, recognize the devastation that invasive species can inflict on the environment, Hawaii's national parks, and the State's endangered species; and

 

     WHEREAS, once established invasive species may hopefully be controlled but often times cannot be eradicated; and

 

     WHEREAS, without vigilant inspection of incoming cargo, the public's health, safety, and welfare are at risk from the introduction and establishment of invasive species; and

 

     WHEREAS, the only two pathways for invasive species to enter the State is by air or maritime transportation; and

 

     WHEREAS, an invasive species inspection at a port-of-entry is considered the best quarantine measure to reduce entry of unwanted animals and plants into the State; and

 

     WHEREAS, there is evidence that suggests that invasive species introduced in the State by air transportation have a stronger likelihood of survival than by any other means; and

 

     WHEREAS, past and current air transport inspections have found prohibited plants and animals, including snakes, piranha, and rare and endangered orchids, fish, and coral; and

 

     WHEREAS, some airlines are releasing imported cargo without inspection; and

 

     WHEREAS, dogs have been released by transportation companies without inspection for public health issues such as rabies; and

 

     WHEREAS, section 150A-5.3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, provides that a person responsible for paying freight charges to the transportation company must pay an inspection fee of fifty cents per one thousand pounds of freight to the transportation company; and

 

     WHEREAS, maritime transportation companies have been attempting to collect the inspection fee and have forwarded the payment to the State Department of Agriculture, but many airlines transportation companies have not; and

 

     WHEREAS, the community and state government feel that interdicting non-native species is a priority and should be required at all ports-of-entry; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2010, the Senate concurring, that the Hawaii Department of Agriculture is urged not to inspect or release any airline cargo of an airline that does not regularly pay the inspection, quarantine, and eradication service fee and charge for that cargo; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Department of Agriculture is urged to cite and fine all airlines releasing cargo that has not been inspected to the extent permitted by section 150A-14, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Director of Transportation, the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, the members of Hawaii's congressional delegation, the Airline Committee of Hawaii, and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, Honolulu District Office.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Invasive Species; Department of Agriculture; Inspection Fee