HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.C.R. NO.44          
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                     HOUSE  CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION
  REQUESTING A STUDY OF THE FEASIBILITY OF UNDERGROUNDING
       OVERHEAD UTILITY FACILITIES.


 1           WHEREAS, the benefits of  undergrounding overhead
 2   utility facilities are numerous, including but not limited to
 3   increased system resistance to damage from high winds and
 4   trees, elimination of poles along highways which pose a
 5   collision risk, and improved view planes; and
 6   
 7           WHEREAS, the recovery of Kauai following Hurricane
 8   Iniki was slowed in part due to downed utility lines and poles;
 9   and
10   
11           WHEREAS, there are disadvantages as well to such
12   undergrounding; and
13   
14           WHEREAS, there are many communities on the mainland
15   which have successfully converted from overhead to underground
16   utility facilities; and
17   
18           WHEREAS, the costs of these conversions are obviously
19   significant; now, therefore,
20   
21           BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
22   Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session
23   of 1999, the Senate concurring, that the Legislative Reference
24   Bureau investigate and study the feasibility of systematically
25   relocating overhead utility facilities to underground on
26   islands whose population exceeds 500,000; and
27   
28           BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference
29   Bureau in conducting the study consult with appropriate
30   government and private entities such as the Public Utilities
31   Commission, the State Departments of Transportation, Defense,
32   and Business, Economic Development and Tourism; the State
33   Consumer Advocate; the counties; Hawaiian Electric Company; GTE
34   Hawaiian Telephone Company; the Outdoor Circle and
35   representatives of business; and
36   

 
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                                  H.C.R. NO.44          
                                                        
                                                        


 1           BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference
 2   Bureau recommend whether the establishment of a planning group
 3   to pursue this matter is warranted, along with recommended
 4   membership; and
 5   
 6           BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference
 7   Bureau submit its findings and recommendations to the
 8   Legislature twenty days before the convening of the Regular
 9   Session of 2000.
10   
11 
12 
13 
14                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________

 
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