STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3808

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 201

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, Water and Land, and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 201 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION STRONGLY URGING THE UNITED STATES ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO MITIGATE NEGATIVE IMPACTS TO CORALS AND OTHER IMPORTANT CORAL REEF RESOURCES WHILE DREDGING IN STATE WATERS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the United States Army Corps of Engineers to work with the Department of Land and Natural Resources to mitigate negative impacts to corals and other important coral reef resources while dredging in state waters.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition and two individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from American Marine Corporation.

Your Committees find that coral reefs are vital to the health of the fragile coastal ecosystem that has sustained the people of Hawaii from time immemorial. In order to ensure that important coastal resources such as coral reefs can continue to support the people of Hawaii, the Department of Land and Natural Resources has set up extensive preventative and mitigating measures in the form of administrative, criminal, and civil penalties for the destruction of corals and live rock. This measure will recognize the importance the State of Hawaii has placed on its coastal resources, especially its coral reefs, by urging the United States Army Corps of Engineers to work with the Department of Land and Natural Resources to mitigate negative impacts to corals and other important coral reef resources while dredging in state waters.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, Water and Land, and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 201 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, Water and Land, and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair	________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair
	________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair