THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2651
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to underground injection.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Section 340E-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (e) to read as follows:

"(e) The director shall promulgate regulations establishing an underground injection control program. Such program shall prohibit any underground injection which is not authorized by a permit issued by the director; provided that the director shall not issue permits for the construction of sewage wastewater injection wells unless alternative wastewater disposal options are not available, feasible, or practical; provided further that the director may authorize underground injection by regulation. Underground injection authorized by regulation shall not endanger drinking water sources. Any underground injection control program shall:

(1) Set standards and prohibitions controlling any underground injection if such injection may result in the presence of any contaminant in underground water which supplies or may be expected to supply any public water system, and if the presence of such contaminant may result in such system's not complying with any national primary drinking water regulation or may otherwise adversely affect the health of persons;

(2) Require, in the case of a program which authorizes underground injection by permit, that the applicant for the permit satisfy the director that the underground injection will meet the requirements of paragraph (1); [and]

(3) Include inspection, monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements[.]; and

(4) Require, prior to issuing a new permit or permit renewal, an assessment on the impact to coastal waters and surrounding ecology.

For purposes of this subsection:

"Injection well" means a bored, drilled, or driven shaft, or a dug hole, whose depth is greater than its widest surface dimension and into which subsurface disposal of fluid or fluids occurs or is meant to occur by means of injection.

"Sewage wastewater" means any liquid wastewater that includes sewage from humans or household operations, regardless of whether the wastewater has been treated or whether the wastewater pollutes or tends to pollute state waters."

SECTION 2. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Department of Health; Coastal Waters; Underground Injection Control Permit

Description:

Requires the Department of Health to conduct an inquiry into the impacts of underground injection control permits on coastal waters and surrounding ecology.

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