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. 3153 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make a matching appropriation for a pilot project on bioremediation research by Maui Ag Partners.

The appropriation specifies that the research is to be coordinated by the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit of the College of Natural Sciences at the University of Hawaii.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Hawaii Water Environment Association and an individual.

Your Committees find that Maui Land and Pineapple, in conjunction with Maui Community College and Earth University of Costa Rica, are in the initial stages of creating an educational and agricultural-entrepreneur training program, called Maui Ag Partners. This pilot program will focus on determining the best management practices for bioremediation of contaminated soil on former pineapple lands in West Maui. This project complements the bioremediation work of the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit of the College of Natural Sciences at the University of Hawaii. A joint effort can leverage additional non-state funds and resources to support sustainable agriculture through rehabilitation of pesticide-laden soils.

Your Committees have amended this measure to add the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources of the University of Hawaii to the Cooperative Studies Unit.

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. 3153, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3153, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.