While saying that residents worried about pesticide exposure had valid concerns and that Federal law did not pre-empt the Kaua’i GMO-Pesticide ordinance, the judge indicated that section 165-3 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes pre-empted the counties abilities to regulate farming, pesticides or GMOs.
Read more (including the decision) at CivilBeat.com
[§165-3] Declaration of public purpose. The preservation and promotion of farming is declared to be in the public purpose and deserving of public support.
§165-2 Definitions. As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
“Farming operation” means a commercial agricultural, silvicultural, or aquacultural facility or pursuit conducted, in whole or in part, including the care and production of livestock and livestock products, poultry and poultry products, apiary products, and plant and animal production for nonfood uses; the planting, cultivating, harvesting, and processing of crops; and the farming or ranching of any plant or animal species in a controlled salt, brackish, or freshwater environment. “Farming operation” includes but shall not be limited to:
(1) Agricultural-based commercial operations as described in section [205-2(d)(15)];
(2) Noises, odors, dust, and fumes emanating from a commercial agricultural or an aquacultural facility or pursuit;
(3) Operation of machinery and irrigation pumps;
(4) Ground and aerial seeding and spraying;
(5) The application of chemical fertilizers, conditioners, insecticides, pesticides, and herbicides; and
(6) The employment and use of labor.
A farming operation that conducts processing operations or salt, brackish, or freshwater aquaculture operations on land that is zoned for industrial, commercial, or other nonagricultural use shall not, by reason of that zoning, fall beyond the scope of this definition; provided that those processing operations form an integral part of operations that otherwise meet the requirements of this definition.
“Nuisance” means any interference with reasonable use and enjoyment of land, including but not limited to smoke, odors, dust, noise, or vibration; provided that nothing in this chapter shall in any way restrict or impede the authority of the State to protect the public health, safety, and welfare. “Nuisance” as used in this chapter, includes all claims that meet the requirements of this definition regardless of whether a complainant designates such claims as brought in nuisance, negligence, trespass, or any other area of law or equity; provided that nuisance as used in this chapter does not include an alleged nuisance that involves water pollution or flooding.
§165-4 Right to farm. No court, official, public servant, or public employee shall declare any farming operation a nuisance for any reason if the farming operation has been conducted in a manner consistent with generally accepted agricultural and management practices. There shall be a rebuttable presumption that a farming operation does not constitute a nuisance.
