STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1376

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   S.B. No. 320

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 320, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to encourage greater environmental sustainability by allowing composting operations on agricultural district lands; provided that:

     (1)  A county special use permit is granted for the composting operation; and

     (2)  On land with soil classified as class A or B by the Land Study Bureau's detailed land classification, the composting operation is limited to on-site use and occupies not more than one acre or ten percent of the parcel, whichever is less.

The Department of Agriculture and two concerned individuals supported the measure.  Pulama Lanai supported the measure with amendments.  The Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu and Maui EKO Systems testified in opposition.  The Council Member for District 9 of the Hawaii County Council submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended the measure by requiring a county special use permit for a composting operation only for composting operations using materials sourced from off-site.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 320, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 320, S.D. 1, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair