STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1257

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 376

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 376, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit:

(1) The mining, extraction, and removal of minerals from the seabed in all state marine waters; and

(2) The issuance of any permit for or in connection with the development or operation of any facility or infrastructure associated with the mining, extraction, or removal of minerals from the seabed within state marine waters.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Sustainable Ocean Alliance Hawai‘i; Parley for the Oceans, Hawai‘i; Sierra Club of Hawai‘i; Hawai‘i Youth Climate Coalition; Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund; Kauai Women's Caucus; Mālama Pūpūkea-Waimea; Hawai‘i's Thousand Friends; Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition; Sustainable Coastlines Hawai‘i; Deep Sea Mining Campaign; National Parks Conservation Association; 350Hawaii.org; Oceanic Preservation Society; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Surfrider Hawai‘i; Rev Ocean; Blue Climate Initiative, Tetiaroa Society; Friends of Hanauma Bay; Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory; The Conservationist Collective; The Marine Mammal Center; Marine Conservation Institute; The Ocean Foundation; Greenpeace USA; HULIPAC; Te Ipukarea Society; Animal Welfare Institute; For the Fishes; and thirteen individuals.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii's marine waters are home to rich, diverse, and globally significant ecosystems. Your Committee further finds that seabed mining poses risks to the State's marine ecosystems and existing ocean-dependent industries. This measure ensures that the State's marine environment remains protected by taking a precautionary approach to the potential harms of seabed mining.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 376, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 376, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Water & Land.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair