HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

93

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

  

STATE OF HAWAII

  
   

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

commending the department of health and the department of land and natural resources for working with community-based organizations to tackle the problem of illegal disposal of solid waste and urging these departments to increase their efforts to provide community-based organizations with the tools to create effective illegal dumping prevention programs.

 

 

WHEREAS, Hawaii's natural beauty is a treasure that is fragile and vulnerable to environmental degradation; and

WHEREAS, illegal disposing of solid waste is rampant on Oahu and throughout the State, creating an eyesore on the landscape and marring Hawaii's natural beauty; and

WHEREAS, solid waste includes construction and demolition waste, abandoned automobiles, auto parts, scrap tires, appliances, furniture, yard waste, household trash, and medical waste, all of which can contain potentially hazardous wastes, such as asbestos, household chemicals and paints, automotive fluids, and commercial and industrial wastes; and

WHEREAS, there are federal, state, and county laws mandating the proper ways to dispose of solid waste to protect the environment and the health and safety of Hawaii's people; and

WHEREAS, enforcement of these laws depends on the participation and vigilance of concerned citizens in communities throughout the State; and

WHEREAS, community-based organizations, such as the Windward Ahupua`a Alliance and the ad-hoc group Malama Waimanalo, have organized to deal with rampant illegal disposal of solid waste in their communities; and

WHEREAS, community-based watchdog organizations have the potential of capturing violators as well as deterring potential violators of the solid waste disposal laws by developing illegal dumping prevention programs; and

WHEREAS, community-based illegal dumping prevention programs can assist federal, state, and county agencies in the prosecution of those who dispose of solid waste illegally by:

(1) Reporting illegal solid waste disposal activities to the appropriate agency;

(2) Organizing clean up projects, community outreach, and education programs; and

(3) Taking other appropriate action to prevent illegal solid waste disposal activity; and

WHEREAS, these community-based programs are in need of tools such as:

(1) Signage, to be posted at chronic illegal dumping sites, clearly informing the public:

(A) That it is illegal to dispose of solid waste, without the written approval of the Director of Health, anywhere other than in a permitted solid waste management system; and

(B) Of the fines and penalties that may apply for illegal dumping; and

(2) Video surveillance equipment that can be monitored by the community-based organization; 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 and the Department of Land and Natural Resources be commended for working with community-based organizations to tackle the problem of illegal disposal of solid waste; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health and the Department of Land and Natural Resources are urged to increase their efforts to provide community-based organizations with the tools necessary to create effective illegal dumping prevention programs, including but not limited to providing warning signs and video surveillance equipment; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health research the costs associated with providing support to community-based illegal dumping prevention programs and report its findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, if any, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to 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, the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency-–Pacific Islands Contact Office, and the Mayor and the Council Chairperson of each of the respective counties.

 

 
 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DLNR; DOH; Illegal Dumping Prevention Program