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 S.B. No. 2973 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

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

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

Your Committees find that providing the Department of Land and Natural Resources with interim authority to respond immediately to threats of imminent extirpation or extinction of native species is critical for the protection of the State's unique natural resources.

Your Committees amended this measure to make technical, nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity and style.

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 S.B. No. 2973, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2973, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.