SSCR1965

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1965

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: GOV. MSG. NOS. 509, 557

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 509 and 557, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

Environmental Advisory Council

G.M. No. 509

JAY STONE,

for a term to expire 06-30-2028; and

G.M. No. 557

DAWN HEGGER-NORDBLOM,

for a term to expire 06-30-2027,

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by Jay Stone and Dawn Hegger-Nordblom for service on the Environmental Advisory Council.

JAY STONE

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Jay Stone from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development and two individuals.

Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Stone's background and desire to serve the public qualify him to be appointed to the Environmental Advisory Council as a member representing the discipline and profession of engineering. Your Committee notes that Mr. Stone has over thirty years of experience in civil and environmental engineering and has been a licensed professional engineer in Hawaii since 1998. Over the course of Mr. Stone's career, he has gained expertise in water treatment and distribution, water resources, wastewater collection and treatment, stormwater collection and treatment, and ecosystem restoration. Mr. Stone is currently a senior associate and civil engineering manager at Bowers + Kubota Consulting, Inc., an employee-owned construction management, architectural, and engineering design firm, and is working on the State's first desalination plant. Prior to that, Mr. Stone served with a number of other engineering and consulting firms and also assisted NAVFAC Pacific with various water systems. Your Committee finds that Mr. Stone understands the role and responsibilities of council members and that his extensive experience in engineering and passion for addressing issues relating to sea level rise and PFAS in drinking water will enhance the effectiveness of the Environmental Advisory Council. Your Committee therefore recommends that Jay Stone be appointed to the Environmental Advisory Council based on his knowledge, background, and desire to serve the public.

DAWN HEGGER-NORDBLOM

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Dawn Hegger-Nordblom from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development and eight individuals.

Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Hegger-Nordblom's experience, background, and proven Leadership on the Environment Advisory Council qualify her to be appointed to the Council as a member representing the discipline and profession of planning. Your Committee notes that Ms. Hegger‑Nordblom is the owner of Ke Kai Planning LLC, an urban planning, permitting, and consulting service, and has been a community land use planner since 2000. Your Committee finds that Ms. Hegger-Nordblom began serving as an interim appointee on the Environmental Advisory Council in 2020 and was confirmed to the Council in 2021. Ms. Hegger-Nordblom's prior term expired in June 2023 but she has remained as a holdover member and currently serves as the Vice Chairperson of the Environmental Advisory Council. Testimony in support of her appointment indicates that Ms. Hegger-Nordblom is a valuable and engaged member, helping to fulfill an important function of the Council by organizing consistent forums and presentations that educate the public on the State's ecology and environmental quality. Your Committee therefore recommends that Dawn Hegger-Nordblom be appointed to the Environmental Advisory Council based on her experience, knowledge, and demonstrated commitment to public service.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

____________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair