STAND. COM. REP. NO. 42

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 840

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 840 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriate funds for the purpose of study, design, engineering, and land acquisition for a wastewater treatment plant in Pahoa, Hawaii.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health and three individuals.

     Your Committee finds that there are approximately 50,000 cesspools located on the island of Hawaii, which can contaminate ground water, drinking water sources, streams, and oceans with disease-causing pathogens, algae-causing nutrients, and other harmful substances if improperly constructed or maintained.  Your Committee finds that the construction of a wastewater treatment plant in Pahoa, Hawaii, would eventually replace many of the existing cesspools in that area and reduce potential health threats to Pahoa residents.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 840 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair