HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THE TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2003

COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Rep. Hermina Morita, Chair

Rep. Thomas Waters, Vice Chair

Rep. Cindy Evans

Rep. Kika G. Bukoski

Rep. Sol P. Kaho`ohalahala

Rep. Cynthia Thielen

Rep. Ezra R. Kanoho

COMMITTEE ON WATER, LAND USE & HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS

Rep. Ezra Kanoho, Chair

Rep. Sol P. Kaho`ohalahala, Vice Chair

Rep. Cindy Evans

Rep. Kika G. Bukoski

Rep. Hermina M. Morita

Rep. Cynthia Thielen

Rep. Thomas Waters

NOTICE OF HEARING

DATE:

Tuesday, February 4, 2003

TIME:

9:00 a.m.

PLACE:

Conference Room 312

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

A G E N D A

HB 1621

RELATING TO SPECIAL PURPOSE REVENUE BONDS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF BLOCK J IN DOWNTOWN HONOLULU.

Authorizes the issuance of special purpose revenue bonds for the purpose of planning, designing, and constructing a low-rise cooling and parking facility on Block J in downtown Honolulu.

WLH/EEP, FIN

HB 1392

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Provides tax credit for renewable energy technologies; creates a solar water heating loan revolving fund; directs DLNR to do a renewable energy land inventory; directs DBEDT to convene a biomass task force; allows renewable energy development in exclusive enterprise zones; and establishes the geothermal resources development special fund.

EEP/WLH, EDB, FIN

     

HB 216

RELATING TO TRAUMA SCENE AND INFECTIOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT.

Regulates the management of trauma scene and infectious waste.

EEP, FIN

HCR 16

REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A SUNRISE REVIEW OF THE REGULATION OF TRAUMA SCENE WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTITIONERS.

EEP, LMG, FIN

     

HB 1634

RELATING TO SPECIAL PURPOSE REVENUE BONDS.

Authorizes the issuance of SPRBs for the planning, design, construction, and equipping of, and the acquisition of lands for, a plasma municipal solid waste processing system to convert solid wastes into electricity, and chemically and biologically inert slag, on the island of Oahu.

EEP, FIN

HB 605

RELATING TO CLOSURE OF MUNICIPAL FACILITIES.

Expands the definition of "pollution control project" to include the closure of the project so that such closures will qualify for special purpose revenue bond funding.

EEP, FIN

HB 744

RELATING TO FUEL.

Prohibits methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) as a gasoline additive in Hawaii after 12/31/03. Imposes penalties for violations.

EEP, FIN

HB 11

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.

Prohibits (within 1 year after its effective date) a person from using, selling, offering for sale, distributing, blending, or manufacturing methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) as a motor fuel additive in this State, except in "trace amounts" (i.e., not greater than 0.5 per cent by volume of the motor fuel).

EEP, CPC

HB 1137

RELATING TO PRODUCT PROCUREMENT PREFERENCES BY STATE AGENCIES.

Encourages all agencies to purchase locally made recycled-content products and provides procurement preferences to bidders on state agency contracts.

EEP, JUD, FIN

     

HB 580

RELATING TO NOISE.

Prohibits as disorderly conduct punishable as a misdemeanor or a violation, the operation of gas or electric lawn mowers or other grounds maintenance equipment that can be heard beyond the premises upon which it is operated, and that is operated after 9:00 p.m and before 7:00 a.m.

EEP, JUD

HB 1371

RELATING TO NOISE.

Prohibits leaf blower manufacturers from causing to be sold in the State leaf blowers whose sound levels have not been tested and lowered under standards of the American National Standards Institute. Appropriates funds for the director of health to establish a buyback program for noncompliant models of leaf blowers. Expands unreasonable noise category of the crime of disorderly conduct to include noise from motorized apparatus.

EEP, JUD, FIN

HB 1372

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE ALARM SYSTEMS.

Prohibits the car alarm manufacturers from causing to be sold in the State alarm systems that cannot electronically notify the car owner that the alarm is being activated. Prohibits car owners from operating a vehicle that lacks electronic notification capability. Subjects violators to traffic code penalties.

EEP, JUD, FIN

 

DECISION MAKING ONLY, NO TESTIMONY ACCEPTED ON THE FOLLOWING MEASURES:

 

HB 737

RELATING TO CLEAN WATER.

Increases, from $25,000 to $40,000, the fine for each violation of the water pollution law, or any rule, permit, or variance issued under that law. Enacts provisions relating to muddy water, underground injection, and nutrients. Allows citizen suits.

EEP, JUD, FIN

HB 1032

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Requires the public utilities commission to develop and adopt a standard power purchase contract for the purchase of electricity by public utilities from nonfossil fuel producers.

EEP, CPC/JUD, FIN

HB 476

RELATING TO CONSERVATION OF AQUATIC LIFE, WILDLIFE, AND LAND PLANTS.

Allows state and county agencies to enter into habitat conservation plans and safe harbor agreements. Requires legislative approval of certain plans and agreements. Provides for the enforcement of habitat conservation plans and safe harbor agreements through citizen lawsuits.

WLH/EEP, JUD, FIN

HB 1213

RELATING TO ENDANGERED SPECIES.

Expands the definition of landowners eligible for coverage under safe harbor agreements and habitat conservation plans to all state and county lands and private lease lands.

WLH/EEP, JUD, FIN

DECISION MAKING TO FOLLOW

PERSONS WISHING TO TESTIFY ARE REQUESTED TO SUBMIT 30 COPIES OF THEIR TESTIMONY AT LEAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE HEARING TO: (1) THE COMMITTEE'S VICE CHAIR IN ROOM 426, STATE CAPITOL, OR (2) THE HOUSE SGT.-AT-ARMS TESTIMONY DROP BOX IN THE TURNAROUND AREA OF THE CAPITOL BASEMENT PARKING LOT. TESTIMONY MAY BE FAXED TO THE HOUSE SGT.-AT-ARMS OFFICE AT: 586-6501 (OAHU) OR 1-800-535-3859 (NEIGHBOR ISLANDS). WHEN FAXING, PLEASE INDICATE TO WHOM THE TESTIMONY IS BEING SUBMITTED, THE DATE AND TIME OF THE HEARING, AND THE REQUIRED NO. OF COPIES THAT ARE NEEDED FOR SUBMITTAL.

IT IS ALSO REQUESTED THAT THE COPIES BE ON ONE SIDE OF AN 8-1/2" X 11" SHEET WITH TWO HOLES PUNCHED AT THE TOP. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE EEP COMMITTEE CLERK AT 586-8435.

IF YOU REQUIRE SPECIAL ASSISTANCE OR AUXILIARY AIDS AND/OR SERVICES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS OF THE STATE HOUSE (I.E., SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER, WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY, OR PARKING DESIGNATED FOR THE DISABLED), PLEASE CONTACT THE COMMITTEE CLERK AT LEAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE HEARING SO ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE.

________________________________________

Rep. Ezra R. Kanoho

Chair

________________________________________

Rep. Hermina M. Morita

Chair