THE SENATE |
S.C.R. NO. |
218 |
TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU TO CONDUCT A STUDY TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER THE BROWN TREE SNAKE HAS BEEN INTRODUCED INADVERTENTLY TO THE STATE BY THE MILITARY AND REQUESTING THE MILITARY TO TAKE MEASURES TO ENSURE AN IMMEDIATE AND APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO SIGHTINGS OF BROWN TREE SNAKES IN THE STATE.
WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that Hawai`i's ecological habitat is fragile and constantly under attack from foreign species; and
WHEREAS, the brown tree snake is an especially harmful alien species that has wreaked destruction on the island of Guam through depredations on native bird populations, poultry, and other small domesticated animals; and
WHEREAS, the brown tree snake has gravely affected agriculture on Guam as evidenced by the steady decline in revenues since the snake was introduced in 1945; and
WHEREAS, brown tree snakes climbing on utility poles and wires cause frequent power failures that result in millions of dollars in damaged equipment, lost productivity, and repair costs; and
WHEREAS, the mildly venomous snakes are commonly found in houses, endangering small children, as well as in commercial buildings and hotels, causing irritation and fear to island residents and tourists who are not accustomed to living with snakes; and
WHEREAS, since the accidental introduction of the brown tree snake to Guam shortly after World War II, ten of the island's thirteen native bird species, two of the island's three bat species, and six of the island's lizard species have become extinct; and
WHEREAS, Guam, once a popular tourist site prior to the snake's introduction, has lost most of its tourism business; and
WHEREAS, emergency records at Guam Memorial Hospital indicated that twenty-seven snake bite victims were treated within a fourteen-month period, one in every thousand visits to the emergency room in Guam's medical facilities as the result of a brown tree snake bite, and the proliferation of snake bite cases have resulted in higher healthcare costs; and
WHEREAS, direct damages in losses from overall productivity in Guam are estimated at between $1,000,000 and $4,000,000 per year, with research and control costs for the brown tree snake estimated at an additional $4,000,000; and
WHEREAS, in Hawai`i, the introduction of any species of snake, especially the brown tree snake, would be disastrous and all steps need to be taken to prevent their introduction and establishment in the islands; and
WHEREAS, early detection of newly established populations is critical to any attempt to eradicate or control the brown tree snake because once established, there is no practical way to eradicate the snakes because they have no known effective natural predator; and
WHEREAS, if the brown tree snake were to become established in Hawai`i, the anticipated losses to our State will be similar to Guam, though exponentially greater given our geographic size, population, and the fragile nature of Hawai`i's native species; and
WHEREAS, brown tree snakes have been discovered at military airports and in navy cargo in Wake Island, Kwajalein Island, Diego Garcia Atoll, and Honolulu, Hawaii; and
WHEREAS, the incidents of brown tree snakes in military situations on several extralimital islands point to the danger of the snake dispersing on military transportation routes from Guam; and
WHEREAS, at present the islands most at risk of receiving snakes from military traffic include the Hawaiian islands, Tinian, Kwajalein, and Saipan; and
WHEREAS, brown tree snakes are particularly suited to dispersal over large geographic areas because the female brown tree snake may be able to store sperm and produce eggs over several years after a single mating; and
WHEREAS, despite efforts to prevent entry of brown tree snakes, the Legislature has been informed by several sources that brown tree snakes may have already been inadvertently introduced to Hawai`i by way of military transport from Guam; and
WHEREAS, the snake's nocturnal habits may allow it to escape detection, and residents would be unlikely to realize the presence of the snake until it was well established; and
WHEREAS, the military authorities in the State claim that all cases of brown tree snake introduction to Hawaii have been intercepted; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the State to take all reasonable and appropriate precautions to ensure that the brown tree snake does not become established in Hawai`i; and
WHEREAS, the Hawaii Invasive Species Council was established by Act 85, Session Laws of Hawaii 2003, to provide policy level direction, coordination, and planning among state departments, federal agencies, and international and local initiatives for the control and eradication of harmful invasive species infestations throughout the State and for preventing the introduction of other invasive species that may be potentially harmful; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-Second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Legislative Reference Bureau, with the cooperation of and assistance from the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, is requested to conduct a study to ascertain whether the brown tree snake has been introduced to Hawai`i by way of military transport or other military interaction with Guam; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to review the issues concerning the introduction or potential introduction of the brown tree snake to Hawai`i by way of military transport or other military interaction with Guam and report its findings and recommendations, together with proposed legislative measures to implement those findings and recommendations, to the Legislature twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2005; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all branches of the military operating in the State are urged to formulate, adopt, and implement a plan for establishing "hotline" services at all of their respective installations for use by individuals to report any sighting of brown tree snakes to ensure that appropriate response may be taken immediately, including but not limited to the immediate dispatch of "sniff" dogs to the area of the sighting; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all branches of the military are requested to place signs or posters, or both, at all of their respective installations to provide adequate notice to military personnel and their families of the actions to be taken in the event of a brown tree snake sighting; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Acting Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau, Chairperson of the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, Commander of the United States Pacific Command, Commander of the Pacific Air Forces, Commanding General of the United States Army Pacific, Commander of the United States Pacific Fleet, Commander of the United States Marine Forces Pacific, and Commander of the Fourteenth Coast Guard District.
OFFERED BY: |
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Report Title:
Brown Tree Snake; LRB & Hawaii Invasive Species Council Study; Hotline for Reporting Brown Tree Snake Sightings.