Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2495 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make an appropriation for plugging and abandoning the exploratory geothermal well in Wao Kele O Puna.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Trust for Public Land. Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR).

From testimony, your Committee finds that there are two exploratory geothermal wells in Wao Kele O Puna currently topped with metal caps. However, the wells, approximately 6,500 feet deep, are otherwise open and in danger of emitting gasses, endangering natural and cultural resources in the area. This measure appropriates funds to plug and abandon the wells to help mitigate the wells' potential hazards.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting "$1,300,000" into the appropriation provision and specifying that the appropriation is for the plugging and abandoning of both wells in Wao Kele O Puna.

Your Committee noted testimony for DLNR requesting that the appropriation be made from the general fund rather than the special land fund; however, your Committee will defer to your Committee on Ways and Means to determine which funding source is appropriate.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2495, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2495, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.