STAND. COM. REP. NO. 466-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 1859

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1859 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for a New Waste Management Solution Pilot Project to be conducted by the Department of Health to:

(1) Review and demonstrate new toilet and sewage treatment technologies at different scales and in different locations across the State; and

(2) Examine and implement a range of technologies, from individual toilets to significantly larger multi-unit systems, as well as examine options for community-scale solutions as appropriate.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Board of Water Supply of the City and County of Honolulu, Department of Environmental Services of the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii Reef Ocean Coalition, Ulupono Initiative, Wastewater Alternatives and Innovations, Human Environmental Impacts Committee of the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party, one member of the Hawaii County Council, and one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committees find that Act 132, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018, established the Cesspool Conversion Working Group and tasked it with developing a long-range, comprehensive plan for cesspool conversion statewide and considering methods by which the Department of Health can ensure that cesspools are converted into more environmentally-responsible waste treatment systems.

Your Committees heard testimony to the effect that the University of Hawaii Water Resources Research Center has the expertise to conduct the pilot project that tests new sewage technologies and may be a more appropriate agency to conduct the pilot project.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Tasking the University of Hawaii Water Resources Research Center, instead of the Department of Health, with the responsibility of conducting the pilot project; and

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

Your Committees heard testimony regarding the benefits of conducting the pilot project on various islands, including the island of Hawaii, which would generate valuable data because of its unique soil composition. Your Committees therefore note their preference, as this measure continues through the legislative process, that at least one pilot project site or expedited demonstration project site be on the island of Hawaii.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1859, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1859, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Health,

____________________________ JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair

____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair