Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy and Environment and Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2498, H.D. 1, entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Department of Land and Natural Resources to adopt interim rules to protect native species threatened with imminent local extirpation or species extinction.

Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources; Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter; and Hawaii Audubon Society.

Your Committees find that Hawaii's endangered species deserve the highest level of protection from imminent harm or extinction. Your Committees further find that interim rules to protect the State's endangered species is needed to ensure that the DLNR can promptly and adequately address situations that require an urgent response.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environment and Water, Land, and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2498, H.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.