STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3047

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 19

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.R. No. 19 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I TO PRIORITIZE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE, SUSTAINABILITY, EDUCATION, AND PUBLIC POLICY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the County of Hawai‘i to prioritize infrastructure improvements to wastewater management through a comprehensive study for economic development, infrastructure, sustainability, education, and public policy.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Environmental Management for the County of Hawai‘i.

Your Committees find that proper maintenance of wastewater infrastructure is essential for protecting the State's land and resources and for promoting future sustainability. Your Committees further find that the wastewater management system for the County of Hawai‘i has not been updated in many years and consequently, wastewater infrastructure for the county does not employ the most modern and effective wastewater management techniques and processes. However, your Committees also find that before the county can make any significant modifications to its wastewater management system, the county needs to conduct a feasibility study that focuses on finding ways to maximize current investment in wastewater systems and all modern and more cost-effective technical and financial models that improve operations, performance, and cost.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 19 and recommend that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair