Posted on 06/16/2006 9:17:46 PM PDT by Proud2BAmerican
By Diana Leone
dleone@starbulletin.com
President Bush is expected to announce in Washington today that he wants to make the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands a national monument.
In doing so, Bush would establish permanent protection for the 1,400-mile-long, 100-mile-wide section of the Hawaiian archipelago and coral reefs, a move that environmental groups, native Hawaiians and others have been seeking for years.
"Building on all the work that was done in the last five years under the marine sanctuary process, the president has decided to elevate the designation of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands area to national monument status," said a statement released yesterday by the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
"This means the area will get immediate protection rather than having to wait another year" for completion of the ongoing national marine sanctuary designation process, the release said.
A senior administration official said the president's decision will ensure maximum protection for the islands, including a phase-out over five years of all commercial fishing.
Disputes over whether to allow fishing in the proposed sanctuary had been a point of contention between conservationists and the Western Pacific Fisheries Management Council, a quasi-governmental advisory group that sets fishing policy for federal waters in Hawaii.
Establishing a national marine sanctuary requires consideration of commercial fishermen.
As recently as yesterday morning, officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Sanctuary Program were expecting Bush to announce that the waters around the Northwestern Hawaiian islands would become the 14th national marine sanctuary.
They were surprised to hear yesterday of Bush's plans to instead declare it a national monument, bypassing the remainder of the designation process, including the release of a draft environmental impact study and a round of public hearings.
Even government and environmental insiders who have been working on the proposed designation of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands as a sanctuary said yesterday they were surprised at the president's change in tactics.
There was speculation that NOAA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service might share jurisdiction over such a national monument, but representatives of both agencies said they would not comment until after Bush's announcement today.
"What I'm thinking is that the worst monument is better than the best sanctuary," said Cha Smith, executive director of the Kahea Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance, a group that has promoted making the islands a "place of refuge."
The monument status prevents "extractive uses" -- such as fishing or mining -- and will afford more protection than a sanctuary, Smith said. However, she cautioned that her group will monitor management plans for the monument "to make sure that destructive practices are not allowed under the guise of 'research' or 'education.'"
NOAA Administrator Conrad Lautenbacher called protecting the area "the single largest act of ocean conservation in history. It's a large milestone."
The state Sierra Club, Hawaii Fishing and Boating Association, Polynesian Voyaging Society and Hawaii Audubon Society all released expressions of support yesterday.
The isles and atolls are home to more than 7,000 marine species, one-quarter of which are found only in the Hawaiian archipelago. The area is key for the endangered Hawaiian monk seal and the threatened green sea turtle.
Gov. Linda Lingle signed new state rules in September that ban fishing and sharply limit public access to state waters of the Northwestern Islands, which are from any land to three miles at sea.
The high, rocky islands of Nihoa and Mokumanamana have great cultural importance to native Hawaiians.
The new monument will be given a native Hawaiian name, using suggestions from state residents, the administration official said.
NOAA will develop regulations for managing the monument. Last month, state and federal officials signed an agreement to manage the pristine islands jointly.
Administration officials say their intent is to preserve zoned access for native Hawaiian activities, educational and scientific expeditions. Recreational and tourist visits that are no more harmful than scuba diving or photography could be allowed, although permits will be required for all activities.
The private Pew Charitable Trusts, which has pushed for the sanctuary for eight years, is looking at providing some financial relief to people losing their fishing permits in the area.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This topic has been posted a lot already; so you know.
My mistake; I did a search on northwestern and monument, and nothing came up. I was surprised it hadn't been posted, since it was a big deal. But I couldnt' find anything in my search.
First time I've seen it :')
DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN!
This will work out better than Nixon's EPA. Will Republicans ever learn?
Dang. When did that happen? :')
Nixon Signs the Endangered Species Act abomination... Reagan signs the CA Environmental Act abomination... George HW Bush signs the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts/abominations... Now here come little George with this Crappola, just like all the above Repub abominations interspersed with some idiotic gems from Johnson, Carter, Clinton, et al!!!
Phooey on all of 'em!!!
You forgot the ADA. Have you seen your doctor yet...
Sh... I mean shoot, I haven't even gotten one of them "DISABLED PERSON" mirror hangers yet! I refuse to become a member of the victimhood society even when I become a legitimate "victim" of society!!! Ha Ha Ha!!!
Many is the time when I already feel victimized by Liberalism and Politickle Correctness and the like, how 'boutchew???
I was mainly "carping" on the GovernMental EnvironMental legislation/litigation theme... as usual, ya know??? I just despise that crappola with a purple passion!!! (I guess you could tell, right?)
Hot damn!!! It's us old fart's BEDTIME!!! (in a coupla minutes so's you'll have time to answer)(toothless grin)
I stole my Blue Ticket to upfront parking from my sister.
Atta bouy, tubebender! I knew you'd find a way to beat the system!!! Nitey Nite!!!
Seems to me that people used to ream Clinton for abusing the National Monument power, but after all, it's just further proof that they are . . .
Is Kerry for this or against this?
Clinton didn't seem to worry about farmers and ranchers when the Escalante was created!!
It was wrong when Clinton did it. It is wrong when Dubya does it. He should have gone through the process.
Cobalt enriched crusts on the flanks of seamounts, volcanic islands, and ridges contain as much as 2.5% cobalt and these occur in depths of 1000 to 2500 meters. Because the crusts are only about 2 cm thick, the mining technology presents a problem. Both the manganese nodules and crusts may be exploited in the future. Potential mining sites are a 500 mile wide nodule belt running for 2500 miles from west of Mexico to South of Hawaii, belts of North Pacific nodules that are close to Japanese and American markets, and a large concentration in the North Atlantic that is near American and European markets.
Cobalt is the most important of the elements in nodules and crusts in price and as a strategic metal. It is indispensable for "superalloys" used in jet aircraft engines. Cobalt supplies are limited, and the largest producer is Zaire. Ocean mining would provide a new source. Cobalt-rich manganese crusts occur on the shallower flanks of volcanic islands and seamounts. Thus, these deposits may be easily recovered compared to the deposits found in the deeper areas.
One has to wonder.
"...Pew Charitable Trusts...is looking at providing some financial relief to people losing their fishing permits..."
A grass hut, one 15 watt lightbulb, a bag of stinging nettle for wiping their butts and a signed copy of the Communist Manifesto or Bowling for Columbine - their choice.
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