STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1153
Honolulu, Hawaii
S.D. 2
H.D. 2
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Third State Legislature
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water, Land, & Ocean Resources, to which was referred S.B. No. 1002, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:
beg leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to protect Hawaii's marine environment from pollution associated with discharge from cruise ships.
More specifically, this bill:
(1) Regulates the discharge of sewage and other wastewater and air emissions from commercial passenger vessels;
(2) Requires operators of commercial passenger vessels to maintain records of discharges; and
(3) Requires operators of commercial passenger vessels to report any prohibited discharges.
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Life of the Land, KAHEA, and the Hawaii Chapter of the Sierra Club submitted testimony in support of the bill with amendments. A concerned citizen submitted testimony in support of this bill. The Department of Health, North West Cruiseship Association, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and NCL America submitted testimony in opposition to this bill.
Your Committees find that Hawaii has a unique marine environment and ecosystem known throughout the world. Our coastal waters not only serve as a food source but also play a vital role in the economy of the State, drawing thousands of visitors to these islands each year. Maintaining the viability of our marine ecosystem through the regulation of the numerous activities along our shoreline, such as the cruise ship industry, is an important endeavor that will not only affect today's citizens, but future generations as well.
Your Committees understands that the issue of regulation of discharges into marine waters of this State is a complex one that involves numerous federal regulations. Your Committees also understand concerns raised by all interested parties. However, the protection of Hawaii's fragile environment is paramount and this topic is worthy of further discussion.
Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, in order to facilitate further discussion on this topic.
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water, Land, & Ocean Resources that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1002, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Finance, in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1002, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water, Land, & Ocean Resources,
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EZRA R. KANOHO, Chair |
HERMINA MORITA, Chair |
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