STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1520

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1452

       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 Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1452, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to test Schofied Barracks for detectable traces of depleted uranium weapon use by using established authority and following military regulations.

     Specifically, this measure directs the Department of Health to take soil samples as close as possible to the center of the target impact sites at Schofield Barracks to detect the presence of depleted uranium.

     Your Committee received comments in support of this measure from a member of the Hawaii County Council and thirty-four other individuals.  The Department of health submitted comments in opposition to this measure.  The Attorney General offered comments on this measure and raised concerns that requiring access to federal property may raise supremacy clause and federal preemption problems.

     Your Committee finds that there is a public concern with regard to depleted uranium in this State.  Internal United States Army correspondence indicate the presence of depleted uranium at Schofield Barracks.  The United States military uses depleted uranium in its ordnance which upon combustion on impact may vaporize and travel for miles based upon particle size, phase, and wind conditions.  If internalized, depleted uranium may cause scarring, fibrosis, and genetic mutations which can possibly lead to cancers, infertility, and birth defects.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1452, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair