STAND. COM. REP. NO. 582

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     S.B. No. 897

 

 

 

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 S.B. No. 897 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WATER QUALITY MONITORING,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for an additional full-time Environmental Health Specialist IV position within the Department of Health to monitor water quality on the island of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Mayor of the County of Hawaii, County of Hawai‘i Department of Environmental Management, Coral Reef Alliance, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and eleven individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that the Clean Water Branch of the Department of Health has inadequate staff capacity to meet its obligations to perform the timely monitoring that ensures the island of Hawaii's stream and coastal water safety for public swimming, fishing, and other recreation.  Your Committee further finds that monitoring and control of contamination from waste water treatment plants, injection wells, and cesspools are especially critical due to their role in harming coral reefs.  This measure will provide additional funding for the Department of Health to hire an environmental health specialist to timely meet the Department's monitoring responsibilities on the island of Hawaii.

 

     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. 897 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