Gov. Linda Lingle will participate a “listening session” Wednesday to obtain the public’s ideas on how to better protect the environment. It’s an interesting step for an administration that has ignored the public outcry on Neighbor Islands for an Environmental
Gov. Linda Lingle will participate a “listening session” Wednesday to obtain the public’s ideas on how to better protect the environment.
It’s an interesting step for an administration that has ignored the public outcry on Neighbor Islands for an Environmental Impact Study for the Hawaii Superferry, but Lingle’s office says she came up with the idea after attending a federal session in early September.
“Lingle decided it would benefit the public to have a similar state listening session to further discuss ideas for enhancing cooperative conservation and partnerships,” a press release for her office states.
Coordinated by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, the State Cooperative Conservation Listening Session runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hawai‘i Convention Center in Honolulu.
There will be a three-minute time limit for participants to speak, and written comments will also be taken.
The listening panel consists of Lingle, senior policy advisor Linda Smith, state Department of Health director Dr. Chiyome Fukino and DLNR chair Peter Young. Representatives from the state departments of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, Transportation and Agriculture will also be there.
Though comments for Wednesday’s session cannot be submitted in absentia, Young said the event will be taped and later shown on ‘Olelo, the statewide community television station.
“If people do have comments or statements they want to get distributed to appropriate departments they can e-mail me at dlnr@hawaii.gov,” Young said.
Federal listening sessions were held by the U.S. departments of the Interior, Agriculture and Commerce across the country to solicit and exchange ideas on incentives, partnership programs and regulations.
