STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3128

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2510

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Energy and Environment and Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2510, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Legislative Reference Bureau to contract with the University of Hawaii to conduct a study to modernize Hawaii's Environmental Impact Statement process.

     Testimony in support of the measure was submitted by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii; Sierra Club, Hawai‘i Chapter; the Conservation Council for Hawaii; the Hawaii Audubon Society; the Coalition of Hawaii Engineering and Architectural Professionals; the University of Hawaii Environmental Center; and two individuals.  Comments on the measure were also submitted by the Office of Environmental Quality Control, the Legislative Reference Bureau, and the University of Hawaii System.

     Your Committees find that the state of the environment in Hawaii and globally are of the utmost concern to us all.  We must make all efforts to protect the State, its resources, the economy, and its residents from the potentially harmful impacts of environmental issues.  This measure requires the Legislative Reference Bureau to contract with the University of Hawaii to conduct a study to modernize Hawaii's Environmental Impact Statement process.  However, the study was previously mandated pursuant to section 10 of Act 1, Session Laws of Hawaii 2008.  Therefore, your Committees believe that addressing the current and potential impacts of global climate warming trends in the State is an important issue, vital to the future of the State and its residents.  Your Committees determine that the establishment of a global warming task force will help to prepare the State to address or mitigate the short- and long-term effects of global warming.

     Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by deleting its contents and replacing it with the contents of S.B. No. 2016, S.D. 1, which establishes a global warming task force to assess the current and potential impacts of climate warming trends and rising ocean levels, requires the task force to report its findings to the Legislature and the Governor prior to the Regular Session of 2009, and appropriates funds for this purpose.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy and Environment and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2510, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2510, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy and Environment and Education,

____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair

____________________________ RON MENOR, Chair