Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1558 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the issuance of $15,000,000 in special purpose revenue bonds for the purpose of assisting West Hawaii Recovery Systems, LLC, in financing the development of a transfer station and solid waste disposal system in east Hawaii.

Despite the abundance of open land on the island of Hawaii, your Committee finds that the County of Hawaii is quickly running out of available options for disposing of its solid waste. This dilemma is partly the result of state and federal environmental protection laws that closed open dumps and imposed strict requirements on new landfills to prevent groundwater contamination, air pollution, disease, pestilence, and other hazards to public health. With only two landfills on the island of Hawaii--one in Hilo and one in north Kona; with the Hilo landfill projected to reach its maximum capacity by the year 2005; and with the time needed to comply with environmental permitting laws and rules, the Legislature must act now if it is to assist east Hawaii residents at all.

Your Committee also finds that the activity and facilities of West Hawaii Recovery Systems, LLC, constitutes a project as defined in part IV, chapter 39A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and the financing thereof is assistance to a processing enterprise.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1558 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.