Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water, Land, Energy and Environment and Tourism and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 666, H.D. 1, entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to delegate the responsibility for regulating individual wastewater systems form the Department of Health to the counties.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Department of Health, Environmental Center at University of Hawaii at Manoa, the Mayors of the County of Hawaii and County of Kauai, and four members of the Maui County Council.

Your Committees find that currently, individual wastewater systems, which include cesspools, septic tanks, and household aerobic treatment systems, are regulated by the Department of Health. The counties are responsible for the review of building permits. As a result, there are two separate reviews for preconstruction and pre-use approvals for homes and two separate inspection and enforcement systems for residential buildings.

Your Committees further find that under this measure, the counties would become a one-stop agency for the review of permits, saving both money and time for the public and the agencies involved.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water, Land, Energy and Environment and Tourism and Intergovernmental Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 666, H.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.