Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 2667 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to protect Hawaii's marine environment by:

The Hawaii Audubon Society, the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, Hawaii's Thousand Friends, and a concerned citizen submitted testimony in support of the bill. The Board of Land and Natural Resources supports the intent of the measure.

Your Committee finds that there is a gaping hole in Hawaii's defense against invasive aquatic organisms. DLNR has primary responsibility for eradicating invasive alien species from natural aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, but little, if any control over their intentional introduction into the State. The Department of Agriculture has primary control over the intentional introduction of alien species into the State, but little, if any responsibility for eradicating these species from Hawaii's aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems once they have escaped into the environment.

Your Committee finds that once invasive alien species escape into Hawaii's aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, control is difficult and expensive, and complete eradication is probably impossible. It is less expensive to take preventative measures to stop the introduction of alien species into Hawaii's ecosystems.

DLNR estimates that $60,000 of annual funding is necessary to fund one full-time position whose primary duty would be to develop a comprehensive plan to prevent invasive aquatic organisms from entering the State. Your Committee respectfully recommends that the Committee on Finance amend this measure to provide the necessary funding to protect Hawaii's environment.

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. 2667 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.