STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1252

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1170

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii `

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 1170, H.D. 2, 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 establish and fund a new waste management solution pilot project to demonstrate new toilet and sewage treatment technologies and to expedite demonstration projects.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, County of Hawai‘i Department of Environmental Management, Surfrider Foundation Hawaii Chapter, Surfrider Foundation Kaua‘i Chapter, Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that non-point source discharge from cesspools is a serious threat to the State's water quality. The State has about 88,000 cesspools, which makes it the state with the highest number of cesspools in the country. These substandard wastewater systems leach an estimated 53 million gallons per day of untreated human waste, harmful pathogens, and nutrient loads into nearby waters. Cesspools' effluent can contaminate drinking water, streams, and oceans with disease-causing pathogens, algae-causing nutrients, and other harmful substances.

Your Committee further finds that determining the appropriate replacements for the numerous cesspools currently in use in the State requires study and reliable local alternatives. Your Committee finds that this measure would support necessary real world testing of proposed solutions to the cesspool closure process, such as demonstrating new toilet and sewage treatment technologies.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Making it effective on July 1, 2019; and

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

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 H.B. No. 1170, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1170, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair