STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2520

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2749

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Energy and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2749 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WASTEWATER,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow the use of individual wastewater systems as an on-site means of wastewater disposal in lieu of county operated wastewater treatment works, regardless of proximity to a county wastewater treatment system.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the General Contractors Association of Hawaii, Pūlama Lāna‘i, Pae ‘Āina Communications, Hana Ranch; and three individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Environmental Services of the City and County of Honolulu, County of Hawaii Department of Environmental Management, County of Maui Department of Environmental Management, and three individuals.

     Your Committees find that wastewater treatment systems are not always environmentally, geographically, or economically feasible for all communities or households.  Furthermore, there are communities that are confronted with a water shortage issue.  This measure will enable these communities and households to conserve water, improve water quality, enrich soil, and provide an appropriate alternative to county wastewater treatment systems.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requiring counties to authorize the installation and use of composting toilets in areas that are inaccessible to municipal wastewater systems, rather than authorize the use of individual wastewater treatment systems in lieu of wastewater treatment works; and

     (2)  Defining "composting toilet" as a toilet that uses no water or very little water and uses natural processes to treat waste.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Energy and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2749, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2749, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Energy and Environment,

____________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair