STAND. COM. REP. NO.  222

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 1478

      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 Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1478 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS HUMPBACK WHALE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to codify the State's role in the co-management of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary under the federal-state Compact Agreement for the Coordinated Management of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.  This measure establishes the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Program in the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the position of Sanctuary Co-manager to represent the interests of the State in joint state-federal Sanctuary management activities.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Planning, The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i, Maui Nui Marine Resource Council, Conservation Council for Hawai‘i, Kua‘aina Ulu ‘Auamo, the Ocean Tourism Coalition, Hawai‘i Green Growth, Humane Society of the United States-Hawaii, and numerous individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure.  Farming, Hunting, Fishing Association and two individuals submitted testimony in opposition to this measure.  One individual submitted comments.

     Although the State's co-management role for the Sanctuary was established by and memorialized in the Compact Agreement, which the State and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) formalized in 1998, it has never been codified in state law.  Your Committee finds that the time is right to do so now.  The federal government has provided the sole source of funding support for Sanctuary activities since 1998 but that funding has sharply declined and is set to expire in 2015.  Further, NOAA has plans to expand the Sanctuary's coverage area to include more state waters and its management scope to include all natural and cultural resources within its boundaries.  Your Committee finds that State funding of and participation in Sanctuary management is critical to ensure that interests of the State and its communities continue to be represented in the management of this important conservation program. 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency; and

     (2)  Changing its effective date to December 24, 2088, to encourage further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1478, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1478, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

KANIELA ING, Chair