Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy, Environment, and International Affairs and Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2357 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to remove the sunset date on the use of new safe harbor agreements, habitat conservation plans, and incidental take licenses as recovery options for conserving and protecting the State's endangered species.

The Department of Transportation, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, the Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, and the Hawaii Farm Bureau submitted testimony in support of this measure. The University of Hawaii Environmental Center submitted comments.

Your Committees agree with the Department of Land and Natural Resources that the State needs the flexibility to work cooperatively with its federal counterparts, private landowners, and other government agencies to deal with the complexities of the endangered species situation in Hawaii.

Your Committees find that this measure will enable the State to continue using proactive, workable solutions to protect and conserve our endangered species while allowing for acceptable resource use activities.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy, Environment, and International Affairs and Water, Land, and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2357 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.