STAND. COM. REP. NO. 557-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2196

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. 2196 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to protect groundwater and nearshore water quality and coral reefs by reducing nutrient pollution from wastewater disposal by:

(1) Requiring onsite sewage disposal systems servicers to report multiple pump services within a year to the Department of Health;

(2) Appropriating funds for the Department of Health to conduct outreach and engagement with residents about onsite sewage disposal systems; and

(3) Appropriating funds for the Cesspool Conversion Working Group to compile an updated database of onsite sewage disposal systems statewide and report to the Department of Health and the Legislature.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition, Wastewater Alternatives and Innovations, Human Environmental Impacts Committee of the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and two individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committees find that wastewater injection wells and onsite sewage disposal systems, especially cesspools, in coastal areas directly affect Hawaii's nearshore waters and coral reefs. Decreasing its flow to groundwater and nearshore waters via individual wastewater onsite sewage disposal systems and municipal sewer-connected wastewater disposal systems can be achieved with proper support for management, education, innovation, and nature-based solutions.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Rather than the Department of Health, tasking the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program, in collaboration with the Department of Health, with conducting outreach and engagement with the public regarding individual wastewater and onsite sewage disposal systems;

(2) Inserting language to require the University of Hawaii Water Resources Research Center, in collaboration with the Department of Health, to conduct research on the most cost-effective way to upgrade cesspools and appropriating an unspecified sum for the research and a resultant report;

(3) Changing all appropriations to unspecified sums;

(4) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

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. 2196, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2196, 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