STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3608

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2182

H.D. 2

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2182, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to repeal Act 33, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017, which established the Carbon Farming Task Force, and create the Greenhouse Gas Sequestration Task Force, which will examine opportunities to utilize carbon sequestration to protect public health and help align the State's clean energy and carbon sequestration goals with the State's climate goals.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Blue Planet Foundation; Elemental Excelerator; Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii; Organizing for Action; 350Hawaii.org; and three individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from two individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Office of Planning; Hawaii Cattlemens Council; Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; and Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that creating the Greenhouse Gas Sequestration Task Force to facilitate carbon sequestration and help streamline the State's climate mitigation and adaptation efforts will assist the State in meeting its clean energy and climate goals.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation from $150,000 to an unspecified amount; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2182, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2182, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair