STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1716

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 116

       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 Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 116 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO CONTINUE AND EXPAND ITS EFFORTS TO RESPONSIBLY IDENTIFY PLACES THAT CAN SUSTAIN THE IMPACT OF OFF-ROAD VEHICLE OPERATION AND TO EVALUATE THE POSSIBILITY OF EXTENDING THE DAYS AND HOURS OF OPERATION OF EXISTING SITES THAT PERMIT OPERATION OF OFF-ROAD VEHICLES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Land and Natural Resources to continue to expand its efforts in identifying and designating appropriate places that can sustain the impact of off-road vehicle operation, and to evaluate the possibility of extending the days and hours of operation of the existing areas that permit the operation of off-road vehicles.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Hawaii Motorcycle Dealer's Association, nine individuals, and a petition with over three hundred signatures.

     Your Committee finds that the use and operation of off-road vehicles, such as motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, dune buggies, and dirt bikes, have the potential to desecrate sacred burial grounds, further threaten endangered species, and harm the natural ecosystems on public lands.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources is making progress in identifying and opening new sites for off-road vehicle operation that can accommodate these types of vehicles in a manner that does not degrade the environment, damage historic and cultural sites, or negatively impact adjacent neighbors in urban or residential areas.  Your Committee encourages the Department to continue to identify and designate more appropriate sites for off-road vehicle operation, and to assess the feasibility of expanding the days and hours of operation at permitted sites so that this growing and popular recreational sport may continue in a safe manner.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by requesting that the Department of Land and Natural Resources develop and implement an off-road vehicle registration policy and user guidelines for the use of designated sites that permit the operation of off-road vehicles.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 116, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 116, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Chair