HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	200
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

Requesting the Department of health and the city and county of honolulu to investigate illegal solid waste management systems, illegal dumping, and to prosecute those found to be running these systems or dumping illegally.

     WHEREAS, Hawaii and its subordinate counties have experienced a large group of illegal dumpers who hide under the guise of running a transfer station or recycling center; and

     WHEREAS, Illegal dumpers are also breaking other laws related to vehicle licensing, insurance, drug possession, or theft; and

     WHEREAS, Illegal dumps could contain hazardous wastes and other contamination; and

     WHEREAS, Illegal dumps can pollute our land, air, and drinking water sources; and

     WHEREAS, Illegally disposed wastes, are often combustible and pose fire hazards, generate toxic fumes if the waste is burned, may contain and conceal hazardous and toxic substances (used oil, needles), may form leachate in areas with heavy rain that pollutes groundwater and soil, if buried, may decompose in time, leading to ground settlement and “cave-ins”, may form explosive gases like methane due to waste decomposition, attract rodents (rats, flies, mosquitoes) which may carry infectious disease, and attract more illegal dumping and criminal activity to the community; and

     WHEREAS, Legitimately run solid waste management facilities are experiencing problems, as was seen in the problems had by Waimanalo Gulch during the last big rains that inundated Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that the State, through the Department of Health, and the City, through the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Environmental Services, have overlapping jurisdiction over solid waste dumping and water pollution; and

     WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that a coordinated effort between state and city agencies tasked with enforcing compliance with State anti-dumping laws is essential to investigate this ongoing problem, coordinate a thorough cleanup, and develop measures to prevent illegal dumping in the future; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, that the Department of Health's Clean Water Branch and Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch, the Honolulu Police Department, and the City and County of Honolulu's Departments of Environmental Services and Planning and Permitting are requested to investigate illegal solid waste management systems holding themselves out as transfer stations or recycling centers; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health's Clean Water Branch and Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch, the Honolulu Police Department, and the City and County of Honolulu's Departments of Environmental Services and Planning and Permitting are requested to investigate illegal dumping; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Prosecutor of the City and County of Honolulu is requested to prosecute anyone found to be running an illegal waste management system or dumping illegaly; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to Director of Health, the Chief of Police of the Honolulu Police Department, the Directors of the Departments of Environment Services and Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu, and the Prosecutor of the City and County of Honolulu.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Investigating illegal waste management systems and illegal dumping.