STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3614

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 187

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Transportation, to which was referred S.R. No. 187 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO EXAMINE ISSUES AND BARRIERS TO ENFORCEMENT TO REDUCE NOISE FROM TWO-STROKE ENGINES, MOPEDS, AND SMALL OFF-ROAD ENGINES AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE TO HELP REDUCE NOISE POLLUTION FROM THESE SOURCES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Health to examine issues and barriers to enforcement of restrictions to reduce noise pollution, including the possibility of funding commercial rebates or similar incentive funding to support the transition to quieter operations by zero-emission mopeds and small off-road equipment.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from Climate Protectors Hawai‘i and four individuals.

Your Committees find that small engines, such as those in mopeds and lawn and garden equipment, are significant contributors to noise pollution that affect the peace, tranquility, and quality of life in both suburban and rural areas across the State. Efforts to control noise pollution emitting from small engines have been codified in chapter 342F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and in chapter 11-46, Hawaii Administrative Rules, while section 46-17, Hawaii Revised Statutes, authorizes any county to adopt ordinances regulating noise. However, the mobile and dispersed nature of small engines make them difficult to regulate. This measure requests the Department of Health to examine the issues and barriers to enforcing noise pollution regulations.

Your Committees have amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Transportation that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 187, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 187, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Transportation,

________________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair