STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3516

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  GOV. MSG. NO. 263
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Labor and Environment, to which was
referred Governor's Message No. 263, as amended by Governor's
Message No. 270, submitting for study and consideration the
nominations of:

ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL

     G.M. No. 263       VERNON D. INOSHITA, for a term to expire
                        June 30, 2002; and

                        DONN T. FUKUDA, ARNOLD L. LUM, RAYMOND S.
                        TABATA, and PATRICIA TUMMONS, for terms
                        to expire June 30, 2004,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee notes that Governor's Message No. 270
withdraws the nomination of Barbara M. Robeson from consideration
by the Senate.

     Upon review of the statements submitted by the nominees,
your Committee finds that the aforementioned nominees are
volunteers, willing to serve without compensation, and will work
with compassion and commitment to assist in administering the
duties and responsibilities of the Environmental Council.  Your
Committee further finds that the nominees have been appointed
based on their professional credentials.

     Your Committee notes the specific qualifications of the
nominees:

 
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     Mr. Vernon D. Inoshita is a professional architect and has
had additional training as a Certified Value Engineer and a
Certified Waste Assessment Inspector.  He is currently President
and CEO of Design Partners, Inc.  Mr. Inoshita was lead architect
for the Weather Forecast Office located in Tiyan, Guam and
incorporated into it the "Clean Air Design" with features such
as:  low maintenance, energy efficiency and use of alternate
energy resources, waste reduction, and optimal indoor
environmental quality.

     Mr. Donn T. Fukuda received a Bachelor's degree in Zoology
and a Master's degree in Environmental Health Science.  For over
twenty six years, he has worked for the Hawaiian Electric Company
(HECO) in the Environmental Department.  He started as a marine
biologist, expanded to solid and hazardous waste, and since 1994
has been the Principal Environmental Scientist overseeing the
Water & Hazardous Materials Division.  Mr. Fukuda is also a HECO
representative on the State Source Water Assessment Program
Advisory Committee and the City and County of Honolulu's Mamala
Bay Regional Monitoring Program.

     Mr. Arnold L. Lum is an attorney specializing in
environmental law and is currently with the Native Hawaiian Legal
Corporation.  Past employment includes the Sierra Club Legal
Defense Fund and the Department of Environmental Management in
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  He has served on the Hawaii
Natural Area Reserves System Commission and the University of
California Natural Area Reserves Board.  During his first term
with the Environmental Commission, Mr. Lum's major contribution
was drafting the cultural impact assessment guidelines.

     Raymond S. Tabata received Master's degrees in both
Geography and Urban & Regional Planning.  He was an Environmental
Specialist for the Office of Environmental Quality Control and is
currently an extension agent for the University of Hawaii Sea
Grant Extension Service.  Mr. Tabata is a member of various
environmental groups:  Hawaii Ecotourism Association, Hawaii
Environmental Education Association, Ecotourism Society, Hawaii
Audubon Society, and the Conservation Council for Hawaii.  Mr.
Tabata is being nominated for a second term.

     Ms. Patricia Tummons is editor of and writer for Environment
Hawai`i.  She is a member of the Society of Environmental
Journalists and has received awards for investigative reporting,
public service, and vocational service.  Community services
include membership on the Hawaii Department of Health Solid Waste
Task Force, Statewide Advisory Committee to the Hawaii Coastal
Zone Management Program, and the Sierra Club.


 
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     The Office of Environmental Quality Control (OEQC) submitted
testimony in support of all the nominees.  In addition, four
individuals submitted testimony in support of Vernon D. Inoshita
and two individuals submitted testimony in support of Donn T.
Fukuda.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Labor and Environment that is attached to this
report, your Committee, after full consideration of the
background, character, experience, and qualifications of the
nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the
positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate
advise and consent to the nominations.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Labor and
                                   Environment,



                                   ______________________________
                                   BOB NAKATA, Chair

 
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