Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, Energy and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 1265 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the issuance of up to $1,000,000 in general obligation bonds for development of a non-chemical, microorganism-based water treatment demonstration project for the Ala Wai Canal at the confluence of the Manoa and Palolo streams.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from four individuals. The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) submitted testimony in opposition. The University of Hawaii at Manoa Environmental Center submitted comments.

Your Committee finds that DLNR has contracted a feasibility study to propose and evaluate alternatives to improve water quality in the canal and the study found that flushing the canal with ocean salinity water would significantly improve the non-storm water quality.

Your Committee believes the DLNR project is an important component in improving the water quality of the Ala Wai, but that it is only one part of the solution to the problem. The project proposed in this bill would demonstrate water treatment alternatives before the water reaches the Ala Wai Canal. Your Committee is supportive of a multi-faceted approach to improving water quality in the Ala Wai, as proposed in this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Energy and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1265 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.