HSCR2

STAND. COM. REP. NO.______2

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: H.B. No. 666

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 666 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INDIVIDUAL WASTEWATER SYSTEMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to:

(1) Give the Department Health (DOH) the authorization to transfer the regulation of individual wastewater systems to the counties, unless the transfer interferes with or jeopardizes any federal authorization or the State's administration of federal or state laws or programs; and

(2) Provide grants-in-aid for the purpose of financing county operational costs of regulating individual wastewater systems that are presently regulated by the DOH.

DOH and the Lieutenant Governor submitted testimony in support of this measure. The Maui Mayor and Maui County Council members submitted testimony in support of this measure, but requested that the funding amount be left blank for purposes of further discussion.

Currently, DOH regulates cesspools, septic tanks, household aerobic treatment systems, and other individual wastewater systems. The counties review building permits; thus there are two separate review for preconstruction and pre-use approvals for homes. There are also two separate inspection and enforcement systems for residential buildings. Your Committee finds that delegating the regulation of individual wastewater systems to the counties is more efficient and in the interest of the public.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 666 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection,

		____________________________ HERMINA M. MORITA, Chair