STAND. COM. REP. NO.  2129

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   S.C.R. No. 118

      S.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 118, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AND STATE OF HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO PURSUE A GLOBAL SETTLEMENT OF OUTSTANDING WASTEWATER ISSUES WITH THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU, AND URGING THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY TO RENEW THE 301(H) WAIVERS FOR THE HONOULIULI AND SAND ISLAND WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Request the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the State Department of Health to enter into a global settlement of all issues facing the City and County of Honolulu with respect to improvements to its wastewater system; and

     (2)  Urge the Environmental Protection Agency to grant section 301(h) waivers for the Honouliuli and Sand Island wastewater treatment plants allowing the plants to continue providing primary rather than secondary treatment of wastewater.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Water Environment Association and comments from Hawaii Pacific Engineers, Inc.

     Your Committee finds that, after many years of neglect, the present City and County of Honolulu administration is undertaking the monumental task of accelerating urgently needed improvements to its wastewater collection system, including six major force mains, the need of which was disastrously evidenced by the recent force main failure in Waikiki.  The city administration has already committed almost $1,000,000,000 for improvements to its sewer collection and treatment system, most of the cost of which will be borne by residents of the city through increased sewer fees.

     Making matters worse, the Environmental Protection Agency is tentatively considering the denial of section 301(h) waivers for the Honouliuli and Sand Island wastewater treatment plants, requiring the upgrade of the plants to require the provision of secondary rather than primary treatment of wastewater.  The city administration and many local wastewater experts do not believe that the expensive upgrade of the present primary treatment of wastewater to secondary treatment is warranted.  Further, such an upgrade could cost an additional $1,200,000,000 to already burdened city residents.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 118, S.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

HERMINA MORITA, Chair