48            
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.C.R. NO.            
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                     HOUSE CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION
SUPPORTING VOYAGER SUBMARINES' PROPOSAL TO PLACE TWO DERELICT
   VESSELS AT ITS OPERATIONS SITE TO CREATE AN ARTIFICIAL REEF.



 1       WHEREAS, much of the nearshore areas in the State are
 2   "habitat poor" with extensive barren ocean bottoms comprising
 3   bands of flat limestone and large sand patches; and
 4   
 5       WHEREAS, it has been demonstrated that artificial reefs can
 6   increase reef fish populations significantly, as fish are known
 7   to congregate and school in such areas for shelter and
 8   protection from predators; and
 9   
10       WHEREAS, in 1961, the State implemented its first
11   artificial reef project to provide enhanced fishing and diving
12   opportunities for the public; and
13   
14       WHEREAS, the artificial reef project proved to be an
15   effective method of increasing reef fish populations, as well
16   as partially fulfilling the demand for fishing opportunities by
17   nearshore fishers; and
18   
19       WHEREAS, currently, there is little live coral growth on
20   the seabed where Voyager Submarines (Voyager), which commenced
21   its operations in November 1994, conducts its operations to
22   provide passenger submarine tours of Hawaii's marine aquatic
23   and reef ecosystems; and
24   
25       WHEREAS, the company currently operates two, forty-eight
26   passenger submarines, offering submarine tours at a site
27   located approximately three-fourths of a mile offshore from Ala
28   Moana Beach Park in water depths of sixty to one hundred ten
29   feet; and
30   
31       WHEREAS, Voyager proposes to sink two derelict, steel
32   vessels at the site in ninety to one hundred feet of water to
33   serve as artificial reefs to encourage coral and fish growth,
34   and serve as a habitat for fish and other sealife; and

 
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                                  H.C.R. NO.            
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1       WHEREAS, the proposed artificial reef will be used as a
 2   direct, nonexclusive easement to Voyager, thereby providing
 3   additional public access and recreational opportunities, such
 4   as additional scuba diving sites for visitors and submerged day
 5   mooring for dive boats so the boats will not have to drop
 6   anchors onto the coral structure; and
 7   
 8       WHEREAS, the vessels used as artificial reefs will be
 9   thoroughly cleaned to U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Environmental
10   Protection Agency, and state Department of Health standards
11   before they are deployed on barren, unproductive, and sandy
12   substrate at least one hundred feet away from any coral-
13   sensitive areas at a depth of approximately one hundred feet,
14   but not to exceed one hundred ten feet, thereby minimizing
15   depth-related hazards to recreational divers; and
16   
17       WHEREAS, on August 25, 1997, the Office of Planning,
18   Coastal Zone Management Certificate of Consistency Program,
19   determined that the Voyager project was consistent with
20   Hawaii's Coastal Zone Management Program, on the condition that
21   the project features outlined in the environmental assessment
22   and the FEIS are implemented; and
23   
24       WHEREAS, this project provides an educational attraction to
25   visitors and residents, promotes fish and coral growth, and
26   supports a commitment to protect and enhance Hawaii's
27   underwater natural resources; now, therefore,
28   
29       BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
30   Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session
31   of 1999, the Senate concurring, that the Legislature supports
32   Voyager's proposal to place two derelict vessels at its
33   operations site to create an artificial reef; and
34   
35       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
36   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the President of
37   Voyager Submarines and the Chairperson of the Board of Land and
38   Natural Resources.
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42                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________