STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1218

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 96

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 96 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THE USE OF AUTONOMOUS UNMANNED SURFACE VESSEL TECHNOLOGY TO DETECT AND CLEAN UP OCEAN DEBRIS BEFORE IT REACHES HAWAII'S REEFS AND BEACHES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Land and Natural Resources to:

     (1)  Support the use of autonomous unmanned surface vessel (AUSV) technology to detect and clean up ocean debris before it reaches Hawaii's reefs and beaches; and

     (2)  Evaluate the benefits of using the AUSV system utilized by Clear Blue Sea.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from Clear Blue Sea, Inc.; and two individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

     Your Committees find that ocean debris pollutes Hawaii's beaches and near shore waters, and has the potential to cause significant harm to reefs and aquatic life.  Your Committees support efforts to find new and innovative ways to address the problem of marine pollution.  Your Committees note that state jurisdiction extends three miles offshore, and much of the debris that ends up in Hawaii's waters and on its beaches originates from beyond the three-mile boundary.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Amending the purpose to request the Department of Land and Natural Resources, in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to explore the possibility of using autonomous unmanned surface vessel technology to detect and clean up ocean debris before it reaches Hawaii's reefs and beaches;

     (2)  Making conforming amendments to reflect its amended purpose;

     (3)  Amending the list of recipients;

     (4)  Amending its title to reflect its amended purpose; and

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 96, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 96, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair