As little fire ants continue to cause problems for Windward O‘ahu, Senator Jarrett Keohokalole, (District 24, Kāne‘ohe, Kailua), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, continues to seek answers and accountability from the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture.
Today, Senator Keohokalole sent a letter to Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, Sharon Hurd, requesting an update on the adoption of administrative rule changes to address little fire ant and other invasive pest species infestations across the State. In February 2023, the Board of Agriculture approved changes to these rules that would allow the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) to require commercial entities to quarantine and treat products offered for sale that are infested with invasive pests. The enactment of these rules requires a public hearing and final approval from the Governor. Keohokalole's letter lays out a series of missteps by HDOA in adopting the rules, which the department says it needs to hold businesses accountable.
Nearly a year after HDOA approved the rules, it held a public meeting for review of the rules in January 2024. Seven months have gone by since HDOA held its public meeting, and it has yet to finish the review of the comments submitted during the meeting. Until the review is completed, the Department said it cannot proceed with further action.
"The Department continues to slow walk action on this with little concern for the impact these invasive species infestations are having on residents and farmers across the state," said Senator Keohokalole. "The HDOA has said that without these rule changes, they cannot require businesses quarantine and treat infested products. Instead, they must rely on voluntary compliance from regulated businesses. Agriculture and commerce are heavily impacted by pest infestations, and we need the Department to act with an urgency that shows it understands the risks we face."
In the letter, Senator Keohokalole asked Chair Hurd to answer a series of questions relating to rule changes and the public hearing, including:
· What were the total number of comments submitted at the public hearing?
· What is the number of comments that have been reviewed?
· What is the number of outstanding comments that need to be reviewed?
· What are the numbers of comments supporting and opposing the proposal?
· When is the anticipated date in which the review will be completed, and further action can be expected?
Keohokalole requested a response from Hurd by Tuesday, August 6, 2024.
A copy of Senator Keohokalole's letter to Chair Hurd is attached.
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