STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1543

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 53

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.C.R. No. 53 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE COUNTY OF MAUI TO APPROVE THE INSTALLATION AND USE OF COMPOSTING TOILETS, ESPECIALLY IN REMOTE AREAS WHERE COUNTY SEWER LINE ACCESS AND CESSPOOL CONVERSION CAN BE COST-PROHIBITIVE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the County of Maui to approve the installation and use of composting toilets throughout Maui, especially in remote areas where county sewer line access and cesspool conversion can be cost-prohibitive.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that composting toilets use no water and produce compost that can be used to enrich the soil. Your Committee further finds that in certain areas of Maui, geological features, such as hard volcanic rock and a shallow water table, or the limits of existing infrastructure, have made the use of conventional flush and septic systems impracticable. Your Committee notes that this measure aligns with state law, which already requires the counties to approve the installation and use of composting toilets in areas inaccessible to municipal wastewater systems.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 53 and recommends that it 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