STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1285-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2600

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness and Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 2600, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Beginning July 1, 2022, prohibit the Department of Health from issuing permits for new large capacity underground storage tank systems located mauka of the underground injection control line, except for the purposes of repairing or replacing existing tanks; and

(2) Beginning January 1, 2023, prohibit the operation of, and renewal of permits for, all large capacity underground storage tank systems located mauka of the underground injection control line.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Health; Honolulu Board of Water Supply; Sierra Club of Hawai‘i; Hulu Mamo Hawaiian Civic Club; Our Revolution Hawaii; Surfrider Foundation, O‘ahu Chapter; Hawai‘i Pacific Health Institute; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; 350Hawaii.org; Livable Hawaii Kai Hui; League of Women Voters of Hawaii; Hawai‘i Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development; ‘Ahahui o nā Kauka; Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action; Aloha ‘Āina Legal Group, LLLC; Restore the Commons; and fourteen individuals.

Your Committees find that the State's freshwater is a vital and irreplaceable resource. Your Committees further find that the State's potable drinking water is in jeopardy of contamination from fuel leaking from underground storage tanks. Your Committees believe that prohibiting the operation of large capacity underground storage tank systems and the issuance of permits for new large capacity underground storage tank systems mauka of the underground injection control line on each island in the State will reduce the risks posed to the State's drinking water by these systems.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language permitting the Department of Health to issue a permit for purposes of repairing or removing an existing underground storage tank;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2060, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) 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 Health, Human Services, & Homelessness and Energy & Environmental Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2600, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2600, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair

____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair