LAHAINA, Maui (7 July 2005) -- The only two people to speak on the plan to haul the rusting hulk of the Carthaginian II from the Lahaina Harbor to sink it off Puamana said they can't wait for it to happen. Speaking at a public hearing on a conservation district permit for the sinking, Keoki Freeland of the Lahaina Restoration Foundation worried about the potential hazard of waiting too long. "If it sinks right where it is, it'll be a disaster," he said. The other testifier, Donna Brown, marine option instructor at Maui Community College, supported plans by Atlantis Submarines Hawaii, saying she could see the project's educational and scientific benefits. "Overall I just want to support it. I think it's a great project," Brown said. Brown, who also oversees a dive safety program, said she expects plenty of both commercial and recreational divers will utilize the artificial reef that will be created once the project is completed. "It would really be an attraction, not that we really need another attraction," she said. But Brown was excited about the possibilities for her students at MCC. She said she envisioned students researching the conditions of the ocean floor before Atlantis sets up its artificial reefs and after. "This is like the perfect project for a student," Brown said. Atlantis Submarines Hawaii has proposed to install two artificial reefs off Puamana Beach Park. The plan is first to sink the Carthaginian II, the former whaling museum ship that has been docked at the harbor but has deteriorated so severely that it can't be restored. Then Atlantis would sink additional vessels or engineered artificial reef structures to create artificial reefs in a second drop zone. Each drop zone will cover a half-acre area approximately 3,100 feet offshore of Puamana Beach Park. The water would be about 100 feet deep at the drops zones with the two zones approximately 1,500 feet apart. About 12 people attended Tuesday night's meeting, most of whom were either employees of Atlantis or staff with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, which is reviewing Atlantis' proposal. The Lahaina Restoration Foundation held a farewell and remembrance party for the Carthaginian in 2003 and agreed to let Atlantis have the former commercial bulk carrier that once plied the Baltic Sea. Jim Walsh, general manager for Atlantis on Maui, said he hopes to have the Carthaginian sunk before Dec. 15, the beginning of the season when humpback whales come to Maui for the winter. Atlantis officials share Freeland's concern that the vessel could sink during the whale season, a time period in which the vessel could not be moved. State officials said they expect Atlantis' conservation district use application will be taken to the Board of Land and Natural Resources for action shortly. | | Carthaginian Walsh, who made a presentation on Atlantis' proposal Tuesday night, said his company also has applications pending for a water quality certificate from the state Department of Health, a Coastal Zone Management permit from the Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism, and a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers. The water quality certificate is ready to go and the Army Corps of Engineers has started its 30-day comment period on the Atlantis application. In addition, Atlantis received approval on its final environmental impact statement in early June. If approved, the artificial reef installation process will take less than a day, requiring an additional day to stabilize and anchor the ship. Atlantis has prior experience in setting up artificial reefs for its underwater tours. More than 12 years ago, Atlantis installed an artificial reef off Waikiki using old airplanes and ships, creating a coral and fish community that was nonexistent in the area, according to Atlantis officials. Walsh said Atlantis has the same vision and goals for its Maui project: alleviate pressure on the existing natural reef system, increase the amount of reef and fish for commercial and recreational users, and provide a research opportunity to study the biomass increase over time. Potential short-term impacts during the artificial reef installation include water quality degradation (increased turbidity) through sea floor disturbance and introduction of pollutants from the artificial reef into the water; sea floor damage; marine mammal and sea turtle disturbance; and ocean activities disturbance, including both commercial and public activities. But Atlantis officials also said because the Carthaginian and other artificial reef structures can be installed in one day, potential short-term impacts should be minimal and numerous steps will be taken to reduce or eliminate them. There also were potential long-term impacts from having the ship with its masts on the ocean bottom, including habitat alteration, and disturbances affecting marine mammals and sea turtles. But most of the long-term impacts are considered positive, according to Atlantis, because they achieve the primary goals of the project. |
