HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

55

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 1
   

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM Business action center, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF EACH OF THE FOUR COUNTIES TO coordinate and facilitate the project review and permitting process of a PLASMA FACILITY in the state.

 

WHEREAS, plasma technology may offer an alternative means of managing solid waste that will reduce the State's dependence on landfills; and

WHEREAS, plasma technology is not an incineration process, but an extremely high temperature thermal treatment technology capable of extracting useful energy from solid waste and leaving as a by-product chemically and biologically inert slag; and

WHEREAS, plasma technology is capable of treating asbestos-containing waste, infectious biomedical waste, hazardous waste, and radioactive waste to an extent that eliminates the threat posed by these wastes to human health and the environment; and

WHEREAS, the permitting process in the State for such a processing facility can be highly layered and complex, posing barriers to prospective businesses that are unfamiliar with the applicable state and county laws; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2003, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism Business Action Center, Department of Health, and the Mayor and Council of each of the four counties is respectfully requested to coordinate and facilitate the project review and permitting process of plasma facilities in the State; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Business Action Center of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to meet with prospective applicants to facilitate understanding of the regulatory requirements and processes, educating the counties and the public on the relative benefits of plasma technology compared to current landfill disposal practices, and assisting prospective applicants with all permitting applications; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, Director of Health, and the Mayor and Council of each of the four counties.

Report Title:

Plasma arc torch facility