CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 84

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2007

RE:    H.B. No. 155

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

       C.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 155, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this bill is to:

     (1)  Provide an environmentally-friendly strategy for the               lighting of Hawaii's streets, highways, airports and               harbors; and

     (2)  Work toward reducing Hawaii's dependence on oil                    imports.

     Specifically, this bill establishes that, to the extent practicable, in the event that regulations or standards relating to outdoor lighting at airport facilities, harbors, or highways conflict with county ordinances or other regulations, the more stringent requirement or standard to reduce bright sources of light in the night sky shall govern all new installations.  This bill also requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to include biofuel storage and transmission infrastructure in all harbor improvement master plans.

     Artificial lighting is increasing on all of the major Hawaiian islands as metropolitan centers increase.  This increase in artificial light, especially from light sources at Hawaii's airports and harbors and along Hawaii's highways now threatens the telescopes' ability at Mauna Kea and Haleakala to study the night sky.  DOT's compliance with county lighting ordinances, along with the use of environmentally-friendly, fully-shielded lighting fixtures, will conserve energy and resources while maintaining appropriate outdoor lighting suitable for safety, utility, and security.

     While your Committee on Conference finds that reducing Hawaii's dependence on imported oil is important, questions remain about the cost and feasibility of improving Hawaii's harbor infrastructure to accommodate biofuel storage facilities.  Accordingly, your Committee on Conference has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Deleting Part II, which required DOT to include biofuel        storage and transmission infrastructure in all harbor              improvement master plans; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity,      consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 155, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 155, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair	____________________________ JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Co-Chair
____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Co-Chair	____________________________ HERMINA MORITA, Co-Chair
____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Co-Chair	____________________________ KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Co-Chair
	____________________________ MARILYN B. LEE, Co-Chair