STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2853

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  H.B. No. 2529
                                        H.D. 2
                                        S.D. 1




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 H.B. No. 2529, H.D. 2, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SAFE DRINKING WATER,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to expand the mandatory
certification laws over public water systems to allow for
distinct certification requirements for water treatment plant and
distribution system operators.

     Testimony in support of the measure was received from the
Department of Health.

     A distribution system operator does not perform the same
functions as a water treatment plant operator.  Your Committee
finds, however, that federal law requires that the State certify
distribution system operators, and that failure to meet this
requirement would result in a 20 percent reduction in the
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund moneys which is available to
the State annually through the year 2003.  This measure expands
the mandatory certification laws over public water systems, which
encompass both treatment plants and distribution systems, to
allow for distinct certification requirements for water treatment
plant and for distributions system operators.  Your Committee is
in agreement that certification requirements should match the
respective responsibilities.


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2853
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     Your Committee amended the measure by replacing the entire
contents with SB 2870, S.D. 1, which is a similar measure on safe
drinking water, and which:

     (1)  Defines a "public water system";

     (2)  Removes the definition of "water treatment plant";

     (3)  Requires the certification board to define "water
          treatment plant" and "distribution system";

     (4)  Adds "complexity" among the factors the board considers
          when classifying all public water systems, water
          treatment plants, and distribution systems;

     (5)  Places distribution systems only under the
          "supervision" of a certified operator and not under
          "direct supervision"; and

     (6)  Specifies that no person shall be held in violation of
          section 340F-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), and
          section 340F-8, HRS, until the date specified in rules
          adopted under section 340F-7, HRS, classifying
          distribution systems and providing for certification of
          operators.

     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 is in accord with the intent and purpose
of H.B. No. 2529, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that
it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B.
No. 2529, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on
Ways and Means.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   BOB NAKATA, Chair

 
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