STAND. COM. REP. NO.  764

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 1087

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1087, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to address actual and potential future leaks of underground storage tanks and the resulting risk of contamination to freshwater supplies.

Specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Amends the barrel tax allocation to the environmental response revolving fund, which funds the Department of Health's environmental mitigation activities; and

     (2)  Requires the Director of Health to establish a task force to assess the condition of at-risk underground storage tanks, take steps to protect freshwater supplies, and submit a report to the Legislature on the task force's findings and recommendations.

The Department of Health, Conservation Council for Hawaii, The Nature Conservancy, and Hawaii Green Growth supported this measure.  The Board of Water Supply and Tax Foundation of Hawaii submitted comments on this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1087, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair