STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1269-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2575

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2575, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit the:

(1) Mining, extraction, and removal of minerals from the seabed in all state marine waters, with certain exemptions; and

(2) 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; Department of Health; Fair Wind Cruises; Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi; Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo; Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory; Sustainable Ocean Alliance Hawaiʻi; Parley for the Oceans, Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Youth Climate Coalition; Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund; Kauai Women's Caucus; Mālama Pūpūkea-Waimea; Sustainable Coastlines Hawaiʻi; Deep Sea Mining Campaign; National Parks Conservation Association; Oceanic Preservation Society; Rev Ocean; Blue Climate Initiative; Tetiaroa Society; FutureSwell; The Marine Mammal Center; Marine Conservation Institute; HULIPAC; Te Ipukarea Society; Greenpeace USA; Greenpeace Hawaii; Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition; Climate Protectors Hawaiʻi; Green Party of Hawaiʻi; 350Hawaii.org; Big Island Reef Keepers Hui; Americans for Democratic Action; Friends of Hanauma Bay; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; The Nature Conservancy; Hawaii's Thousand Friends; Surfrider Foundation, Hawaiʻi Region; The Ocean Foundation; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that this measure is a forward-thinking and proactive response that prohibits seabed mineral extraction in the State's ocean waters.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2575, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair