STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1113
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2005
RE: S.B. No. 1473
S.D. 1
H.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2005
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources, to which was referred S.B. No. 1473, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WAIMANO RIDGE,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to help ensure the safety and well-being of residents in the Waimano ridge area by prohibiting state or county agencies, commissions, and departments from permitting or authorizing any new or expanded use or contemplated development of existing leased lands or facilities on state-owned land in the Waimano ridge area without first providing at least 90 days notice of the new or expanded use or contemplated development. In addition, this bill, among other things:
(1) Establishes a process for the Department of Health (DOH) to draft an updated master plan for future use of the state-owned land in the Waimano ridge area, and requires public input and approval during the process; and
(2) Requires legislative approval, through the adoption of a concurrent resolution requesting approval of the master plan and any proposed legislation necessary to effectuate the master plan, to repeal the prohibition.
A concerned citizen supported this bill. DOH opposed this measure. The Office of Information Practices offered comments.
After careful and deliberate consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its contents and inserting the substance of H.B. No. 1141, H.D.2, that streamlines the process to update the master plan without legislative approval, but still provides for meaningful public input and the dissemination of essential information of DOH's activities on Waimano ridge to the surrounding communities. As amended, this bill:
(1) Prohibits any state or county agency, commission, or department from granting, approving, or issuing any lease or permit that authorizes new or expanded use, or further development, of existing leased lands or facilities on state-owned land in the Waimano ridge area until a master plan is developed, communicated to area residents, and the public health, well-being, and safety is assured;
(2) Establishes a process, requiring public input, for DOH to draft the master plan; and
(3) Requires DOH to prepare and disseminate an annual report describing the activities on Waimano ridge, including certain details on the tests and programs being conducted there as well as details on public informational meetings conducted.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1473, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1473, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, & Ocean Resources,
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____________________________ EZRA R. KANOHO, Chair |
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