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Gov. Neil Abercrombie plans to fill 10 vacant state agricultural inspector positions — all of them at Honolulu Airport.
The 10 positions will increase the level of inspections of produce and agricultural material and decrease inspection delays, the governor’s office said in a news release Wednesday.
Abercrombie also signed into law House Bill 1568, which directs the state departments of transportation and agriculture to begin the design and construction of biosecurity inspection facilities at airports and harbors.
Before layoffs in 2009, there were 95 plant quarantine inspectors statewide, covering all domestic maritime and air cargo inspections and handling import permits for regulated plants, animals and microorganisms. There are now 50 agricultural inspectors statewide.
Abercrombie said he approved the additional hiring as part of his plan to protect the environment, grow more local food and restore the economy.
The Department of Agriculture says it will cost about $515,000 to restore these 10 positions, including salary and fringe costs. The positions are paid for by a pest inspection and eradication fund that importers pay into based on cargo weight.