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.R. No. 101 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request a study on establishing a Hawaii State geological survey.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the University of Hawaii School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, the Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, and two individuals. Comments were also submitted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Hawaii faces a wide range of geological issues, including coastal erosion, limited ground and surface water, rock falls and landslides, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, depleted rock aggregate resources, and geothermal energy. Hawaii's activities related to these geological issues are spread among many different state and county agencies, potentially leaving gaps in efforts to collect and analyze geologic data on issues of importance to the State and many geological hazards.

Your Committee finds that many mainland states have a state geological survey that creates, interprets, and disseminates applied earth science information to address societal needs. However, because there is no state department in Hawaii, millions of dollars in federal funding to perform geological studies have been lost. This measure requests the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a study on establishing a geological survey in Hawaii.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 101 and recommends its adoption.