Draft EA Posted For Strawberry Guava Management In Hawai'i

This just came in the mail so I thought I'ld pass it on because I know a lot of us care very much about this topic.

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For Immediate Release: June 22, 2010


DRAFT EA POSTED FOR STRAWBERRY GUAVA MANAGEMENT IN HAWAI‘I


HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture has posted a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the release of a natural predator (Tectococcus ovatus, a Brazilian scale insect) for the sustainable management of strawberry guava in Hawai‘i.

This action is proposed to mitigate the impacts of strawberry guava on native forests, the water supply, and agriculture.

The draft EA is available in the Environmental Notice on the Hawai‘i Department of Health’s Office of Environmental Quality Control (OEQC) website and will be open for public comment for one month, June 23-July 23, 2010. Visit the OEQC website at
[url=http://hawaii.gov/health/environmental/environmental/oeqc/index.html ]http://hawaii.gov/health/environmental/environmental/oeqc/index.html [/url]

Only written comments will be accepted, and may be submitted to the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture Plant Pest Control Branch at 1428 S. King St. Honolulu, HI 96814, with a copy sent to the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, 1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 325, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813; or emailed to hdoa.ppc@hawaii.gov


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For more information news media may contact:
Deborah Ward
DLNR Public information specialist
Phone: (808) 587-0320

Dr. Neil Reimer
Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture
Phone: (808) 973-9522
Email: hdoa.ppc@hawaii.gov -

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This is your chance to voice your concerns, disapproval, or support. If interested, you have one month to read the EA and send your comments in by July 23rd. After the public comment period, they will address all comments and come out with a final EA.

I'm sorry, that link they posted did not bring you directly to the EA. Under the "Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements" section of that page, click on the link titled "Title of Document". Then click on "Statewide". Then click on the "2010s" folder and finally the document titled "2010-06-23-ST-DEA-Biocontrol-Strawberry-Guava".

Just a note guys, if youre gonna write testimony on this subject please remain professional, tactful and respectful. Explain your concerns that way they understand where your coming from and take you seriously. If you get disrespectful and harsh then it creates an opposite effect just be honest about how you feel about this in a professional manner.

Another thing is READ the EA and if you have any questions baout something in there post your question here so that it can be addressed before you send in your letter that way you have a better understanding of what the EA is saying.

Alohaz,

Bradda Muns

Just some one sided BS ive found so far:

Substantial decrease in the pig population is unlikely, and hunting will not be adversely impacted
and may actually benefit, along with hiking, birding and other activities that depend on forest
access, from fewer and less dense thickets. I adressed this in our meeting with them they had no answer yet they print it with a biased opinion.

T. ovatus is
expected to reduce vegetative growth along with fruit and seed production, decreasing the spread
of strawberry guava over a period of years. T. ovatus is known in Brazil to reduce strawberry
guava vigor by as much as 25 to 40 percent and fruiting by 60 to 90 percent. Thier talking about Brazil here in Hawaii the lead person on this project told us they were seeing 100% fruit reduction this is from the horses mouth folks so hmmmmm just the typical BS still going on.

Just how fast T.
ovatus will spread following its release is difficult to predict, but populations of the insect are
expected to disperse gradually from release sites, mainly carried by wind. T. ovatus is not
expected to disperse long distances in the wind except perhaps in rare, major wind events. This is another point I addressed in our mtg with them I had them tongue tied, they were trying to say that it cant go long distances when Tracy himself stated just 5 minutes before that that they could blow it with thier breath and it stay suspended for long periods of time in a con trolled env. my question to them was if that was the case how much more will it be when blown by the trades? They ignored my question and continued

This is just from a small sampling of the EA but just wanted to keep you guys on your toes. All im saying here is that the only reason I know these things is because of the work I do and that they came out to our program and spoke to us about this. And of course they were more lenient to say things that obviously they arent saying in the draft EA or that they would say in a public setting and thats what makes me SICK!!! If I hadnt attended these mtgs I wouldnt know the difference so how can I expect you to know yourselves. And that my fellow huntas is how they win the fight, we need to get educated and equipped to fight these battles or we will lose one battle at a time until when it comes to it the war itself.

So who will stand with me on the field of battle and at the least to say in the end we fought a good fight. I hope there will be more with me but if need be I will fight this battle alone. I do not believe in this biocontrol nor do I trust those who are trying to release it. Beacause I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THEY ARE LYING. This has written all over it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alohaz,

Bradda Muns

DOnt wait too long guys if you can send a letter for every person in you family

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