PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS :
1. ) Fire safety issues - The main human causes of fires are campfires, burning debris, fireworks, equipment malfunction, discarded cigarettes and arson. Natural causes include lightening, and lava. We live in an area that may be wet, but we have layers of decaying plant materials on the forest floor. These layers create gases as they decompose. These gases are flammable. If a fire gets out of control it can be difficult to put out because a fire can travel down a lava tube that is full of plant debris and pop up somewhere else, even miles away, as it burns through the debris. We had a fire on lower Omega street where the flames were so tall you could see them from the highway. It burned for two days. So, please be aware of how dangerous a fire can be, especially in a rainforest.
The State of Hawaii has laws regulating open fires, here is the link to that information
https://health.hawaii.gov/cab/open-burning-and-agricultural-burning-permits-in-hawaii/
2.) Spraying of herbicides - The FFCA has been, and wants to continue the spraying of herbicides on our easements ,as stated on their website. First of all, the Court said on 9/25/17 that the easement belongs to the homeowner. It is illegal for anyone to spray your property without your permission, and if our plants die for example, that we could sue them. Second, herbicides are harmful :to the environment, domestic and wild animals, our water systems as it pools in the streets and is soaked into the land, and most of all to humans. Scientific American magazine wrote about it in an article, titled," Weed-Whacking Herbicide Proves Deadly to Human Cells." Just click on the title to go to their page.
To view the Hawaii Pesticide Laws click HERE
3.) The creation of a dump - The FFCA wants to turn the lot we own on Leila street into a dump. There are Laws that would require permits and other restrictions for such a project. There needs to be an environmental impact statement for example. The Hawaii Law governing waste management would apply. Also, there is relevant information at a link to Dept. of Environmental Services page on Illegal Dumping by clicking on the words illegal dumpini. And is this dump going to be paid for with road maintenance money because having a dump is not road maintenance. Plus, who knows what hazardous materials they want to dump, like hydrolic fluids from the equipment ?
4.) The spreading of crushed concrete on our roads which is toxic. Here is a link to Vulcan Materials and their break down of the toxic elements involved. Click here on toxic . Also, have a look at the Material Data Sheet for National Precast Concrete Association by clicking here on data sheet . We want them to stop spreading that material. It is especially bad when it gets dry and the dust blows all over everything, and we are inhaling the silicate particles into our lungs.
5.) The school bus stop issue - The FFCA recently brought the school bus stop back after years of having it gone. In 2010 the bus stop was torn down and we were locked out of our community lot. Which we still are basically. But at least after the lawsuit filed by lot owners and pressure from school bus drivers, the bus stop has been restored. It is a shame we had to force them to consider the dangers of children of waiting on, boarding and exiting school buses at busy intersections to get them to open the lot back up for the school bus stop.