Bill Text: HI SR100 | 2021 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Urging The United States Marine Corps To Refrain From Commencing Live Gunfire Activities At Puuloa Rifle Range Before 10:00 A.m. Daily, In Order To Help Limit The Neighboring Community's Exposure To Loud And Excessive Noise.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-16 - Referred to PSM/HTH. [SR100 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2021-SR100-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	100
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

urging the united states marine corps to refrain from commencing LIVE GUNFIRE activities at puuloa rifle range BEFORE 10:00 a.m. daily, in order to help limit the neighboring community's exposure to loud and excessive noise.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, according to the World Health Organization, excessive noise poses serious harm to human health and interferes with daily activities during school, work, home life, and leisure time; and

 

     WHEREAS, exposure to excessive noise may result in sleep disturbances, cardiovascular effects, hearing loss, other psychophysiological effects, reduced performance, annoyance, and changes in social behavior; and

 

     WHEREAS, residents of Ewa Beach have repeatedly raised concerns about the timing and levels of noise, including loudspeaker announcements and live gunfire, emanating from the Puuloa Rifle Range and Training Facility operated by the United States Marine Corps; and

 

     WHEREAS, minutes of Ewa Neighborhood Board meetings held in May, June, August, and September 2019 reflect numerous observations and concerns relating to noise from the rifle range, including:

 

     (1)  Increased residential development that has resulted in a higher concentration of residents affected by excessive noise;

 

     (2)  The lack of observed quiet hours at the Puuloa Rifle Range and Training Facility, compared to other military-operated rifle ranges on Oahu;

 

     (3)  Announcements made from the range's public address system that routinely commence before 7:00 a.m. and sometimes as early as 5:00 a.m.;

 

     (4)  Live gunfire that sometimes commences as early as 6:00 a.m. and continues into the evening hours;

 

     (5)  Reports from area residents about noise that can be heard before 7:00 a.m., subsequent to the making of adjustments at the range;

 

     (6)  A recent six-month closure of the range that resulted in heavier use upon re-opening, for purposes of re-certifying service members;

 

     (7)  Further efforts by the Marine Corps to mitigate the noise, which include reducing the volume of the sound system; reducing the time spent on live firing, which runs from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and more recently, installing noise abatement equipment; and

 

     (8)  Discussion among members of the Ewa Neighborhood Board on a proposed resolution and amended resolution, which ultimately went unadopted, relating to noise from the rifle range; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Legislature understands the importance of the Puuloa Rifle Range and Training Facility in relation to the United States Marine Corps' ability to conduct long-range rifle training, but also believes that it is reasonable to seek to balance military preparedness with maintaining a high quality of life for nearby community members; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2021, that the United States Marine Corps is urged to refrain from commencing live gunfire activities at Puuloa Rifle Range and Training Facility before 10:00 a.m. daily, in order to help limit the neighboring community's exposure to loud and excessive noise; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States Marine Corps is requested to work with any non-government entities allowed to use the rifle range, such as the Puuloa Rifle and Pistol Club, to ensure that uses of the range not involving military training also do not commence before 10:00 a.m.; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Commanding Officer of the United States Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Noise Section Supervisor of the Department of Health, President of the Puuloa Rifle and Pistol Club, and Spokesperson of A Quieter Oahu.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Puuloa Rifle Range; Loud and Excessive Noise