RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 was enacted to properly dispose of hazardous waste; and

WHEREAS, some agricultural products such as waste-derived fertilizers, animal feed, soil amendments, agricultural minerals, auxiliary soil, and plant substances may contain high levels of heavy metals and other toxic byproducts; and

WHEREAS, the federal government does not regulate agricultural products, which are mainly regulated on a state-by-state basis; and

WHEREAS, there are conflicting claims on the allowable levels of hazardous wastes in waste-derived fertilizers, animal feed, soil amendments, agricultural minerals, auxiliary soil, and plant substances, as there are no nationally recognized standards for additives in those products and state regulations appear to allow toxic byproducts in them; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Health is requested to study the impact of waste-derived fertilizers, animal feed, soil amendments, agricultural minerals, auxiliary soil, and plant substances on the health and safety of consumers, farmers, and the general public; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is requested to invite the participation of representatives from the Department of Agriculture, the federal Environmental Protection Agency, industry representatives, and interested organizations in its study; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is requested to report its findings and recommendations and any proposed legislation to address hazardous waste in fertilizers, animal feed, soil amendments, agricultural minerals, auxiliary soil, and plant substances to the Legislature not later than twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2007; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Director of Health, and the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture.

Report Title:

Fertilizers; Waste-Derived Fertilizers; DOH; DOA