STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1880

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 58

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

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. 58, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING ALL BRANCHES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO PROHIBIT DUMPING OF VESSEL SEWAGE IN FEDERAL WATERS IN THE VICINITY OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS HUMPBACK WHALE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to protect the water quality, ocean resources, and marine environment in Hawaii by requesting all branches of the United States government to prohibit dumping of vessel sewage in federal waters in the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Whaleman Foundation, the Whalesong Project, the Cetacea Defence Organisation, Snorkel Bob's Hawaii, and twenty-three individuals.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources submitted testimony in support of the intent of this measure with comments.

     Your Committee finds that the federal Environmental Protection Agency has the authority to designate the waters within the boundaries of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary as a No-Discharge Zone for vessel sewage.  Recognizing the harsh and irreversible impact that raw sewage dumping has on the marine environment, the state of Florida had the federal Environmental Protection Agency designate the state waters within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary as a No‑Discharge Zone pursuant to 312(f)(4)(A) of the Clean Water Act, which protects special aquatic habitats or species.

     Your Committee further finds that Hawaii's unique ocean resources and special aquatic habitats and species need to be protected from vessel sewage dumping that is contaminating state waters.

     Your Committee amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 58, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 58, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

RON MENOR, Chair