Establishes two-year DOE pilot program to develop school-based environmental planning, monitoring, education, and outreach network at Waialua intermediate and high schools in conjunction with the University of Hawaii and community groups. Makes appropriation.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the knowledge and skills necessary for sustainable resource management are lacking throughout Hawaii. Soil science information used by engineers and planners to design drainage, irrigation, waste, and other systems does not accurately reflect current watershed trends or site-specific conditions. The existing watershed management system is woefully inadequate to keep Oahu communities informed about and protected from all possible contaminants. Residents, businesses, communities, and schools throughout Hawaii are impacted by military operations, urban development, and agricultural and conservation projects. For example, on Oahu, watershed-wide and site-specific operations have resulted in non-point source pollution at Lake Wilson, Kaukonahua Stream, and Kaiaka Bay.

The current watershed management system requires major upgrades before it can provide up-to-date, integrated, island-wide management. The existing outdated system impedes technology transfers and the free exchange of environmental data between Oahu and other tropical regions, which would provide an increasingly precise, comprehensive, international environmental management system. In today's ever-changing, geo-physical environment, with the dangers produced by environmental disasters, septic run-off, and many other events, Hawaii cannot afford to remain in its current state. Too often, those who will be the most affected by any proposed development project or operation lack the means to evaluate the extent of an environmental impact that a project may produce. Sustainable resource management will never occur on Oahu without resources being monitored on a local level by trained and informed residents. One way to tackle this problem is for the department of education to provide the tools necessary for students and residents to be stewards of their own communities by developing effective plans and educational programs at local schools as part of an environmental planning, monitoring, education, and outreach network.

The purpose of this Act is to provide moneys to the department of education for a two-year pilot program which will develop and implement an environmental planning, monitoring, education, and outreach network at Waialua intermediate and high schools, in conjunction with local community groups, and the University of Hawaii. This network will improve the existing science curriculum, and promote school and community activities to monitor local environmental conditions and prepare conservation strategies. The primary objective of the pilot program will be to the department shall be to develop and implement program curricula and activities to provide students and the community with the skills necessary to monitor impacts of and to recommend locally-appropriate best management practices for military, urban, agricultural, and conservation operations on Oahu, in conjunction with the University of Hawaii and local community groups.

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A-   Environmental planning, monitoring, education and outreach network pilot program. (a) The department shall establish a two-year environmental planning, monitoring, education, and outreach network pilot program at Waialua intermediate and high schools.

(c) The department may adopt rules under chapter 91 necessary for the purposes of this section."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $250,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, to carry out the purpose of this Act, including the hiring of necessary staff.

SECTION 4. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education.

SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006, provided that section 2 shall be repealed on June 3, 2008.