STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1960

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 162

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Energy and Environment, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 162 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING CERTAIN ACTION CONCERNING THE CONDUCTING OF A TEST TO CONVERT H-POWER ASH TO REUSABLE MATERIAL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to facilitate the conversion of H-Power ash to reusable materials by requesting the Director of Health to consider waiving the H-Power permit modification requirement for conducting an ash conversion test or to develop alternative methods to conducting a test that do not require permit modification, or expedite the permitting process if neither of the foregoing are feasible. 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the City and County of Honolulu and Covanta Energy.

     Your Committee finds that, although under the purview of the counties, waste management and disposal is generally regulated by the Department of Health.  Currently, within the City and County of Honolulu, waste disposal is diverted to two main facilities, one of which combusts municipal solid waste for the generation of electricity and the other that serves as a disposal site for excess waste and H-Power ash.  Your Committee further finds that there is a substantial amount of H-Power ash that is generated, which can be converted into reusable material; however, conversion may be hindered by the need for modification of the H-Power solid waste management facility permit by the Department of Health.

     This measure requests the Director of Health to consider waiving the H-Power permit modification requirement or providing some alternative method that would not require permit modification in order to facilitate the conversion of H-Power ash into reusable materials.  Furthermore, should the aforementioned methods be impracticable, the Director is requested to consider implementing an expedited process for permit modification that will help the City and County of Honolulu in addressing current and future waste management needs.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 162, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy and Environment,

____________________________

RON MENOR, Chair