Project Name: Biocontrol of Strawberry Guava...

[dakine]

I just got this email.. thought Id pass it along...

From: HDOA.PPC@hawaii.gov
Subject: Comment period on draft EA for Tectococcus begins June 23.
Date: June 22, 2010 5:09:56 PM HST
To: undisclosed-recipients:;

Dear Participant:

You had previously requested to be notified of the following:

This email is to inform you that a Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) for the subject project prepared pursuant to the EIS law (Hawaii Revised Statutes, Chapter 343) and the EIS rules (Administrative Rules, Title 11, Chapter 200) is available at the Hawai‘i OEQC website on June 23, 2010:

http://hawaii.gov/health/environmental/oeqc/index.html/

Project Name: Biocontrol of Strawberry Guava by its Natural Control Agent for Preservation of Native Forests in the Hawaiian Islands

Location: Island: Statewide District: N.a.
Tax Map Key Number: N.a.

Your written comments (no oral comments acepted) must be received or postmarked by: July 23, 2010

Please send original comments to the:

Proposing Agency: Hawai‘i State Department of Agriculture, Plant Pest Control Branch
Address: 1428 S. King St.
Honolulu, HI 96814
Contact: Dr. Neil Reimer Phone: (808) 973-9522
Email: hdoa.ppc@hawaii.gov

Copies of the comments should be sent to the following:

Approving Agency: Hawai‘i State DLNR, Division of Forestry and Wildlife
Address: 1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 325
Honolulu, Hawai'i 96813
Contact: Paul Conry Phone: (808) 587-0166

CD copies are available upon request to the Department of Agriculture.
Paper copies of the DEA are available at the following libraries:

Island of O‘ahu:
Hawai‘i State Library (South King Street), Kaimuki Kaneohe Regional Library Kahului Regional Library, Hawai‘i Kai Regional Library.

Island of Kaua‘i:
Lihue, Koloa and Princeville.

Island of Maui:
Kahului, Lahaina, Hana, and Makawao.

Island Hawai‘i:
Hilo, Kailua-Kona, Thelma Parker (Waimea), Naalehu, Bond Memorial (Kapaau), Honokaa Public Library, Keaau Public Library, Mt. View, Pahoa.

Also available at the Moloka‘i and Lana‘i Public Libraries and the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, Edwin Mookini Library, and the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, Hamilton Library.

[MarkP]

Bring it on!

This biocontrol agent has been studied for 15 years already. It should have been released long ago.

It still amazes me when people bring up the old mongoose and the rat example from the 1800s. If I were to say I didn't trust doctors because civil war surgeons didn't sterilize their instruments and lopped off limbs at the slightest provocation I would rightly be recognized as a fool, and I would also be dead by now due to lack of medical treatment.

[robguz]

Given that dozens of species are untintentionally introduced every year and there is no study on any of them, I agree, it is way overdue to be released. The biocontrol to save the wiliwili is already apparently working quite well. I only wish this proposed biocontrol was more effective and could wipe out this awful invasive plant completely.

[steve1]

Here is a direct link to the 131 page Draft Environmental Assessment:
http://oeqc.doh.hawaii.gov/Shared%20Docu...-Guava.pdf
Comments must be written but may be emailed. I am testing the email address for correctness and will post it if I get an affirmative response.

Updated 6/25 Just got an email back from hdoa.ppc@hawaii.gov
This is the correct address to use if you would like to provide written comment by email on the proposed Strawberry Guava Bio control plan.