STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 106-20
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2020
RE: H.B. No. 2031
H.D. 1
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirtieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2020
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2031 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE WAHIAWA DAM AND RESERVOIR,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The
purpose of this measure is to:
(1) Require the Department of Land and Natural Resources Engineering Division Dam Safety Program (Department) to develop and implement an emergency intervention plan for the Wahiawa dam and reservoir;
(2) Require the Department to submit the Wahiawa dam and reservoir emergency intervention plan to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2022; and
(3) Appropriate funds for the development and implementation of the Wahiawa dam and reservoir emergency intervention plan.
Your
Committee finds that climate change increases the risk of drought and sea level
rise, making it critical to maintain the State's water storage capabilities and
protect downstream communities from flooding.
This measure seeks to address those issues by requiring the Department
to develop and implement an emergency intervention plan for the Wahiawa dam and
reservoir, which serves as a major water supply for central and North Shore
Oahu.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Removing the requirement that the Department implement the intervention plan, as the Department has that authority only in the event of an emergency and the responsibility to remedy unsafe conditions rests with the dam's owner;
(2) Clarifying that the Department position, for which funds are being appropriated, is to aid in the development of the intervention plan;
(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and
(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2031, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2031, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs,
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____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair |
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