STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1679-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   S.C.R. No. 145

      S.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 145, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO AFFIRM ITS COMMITMENT TO MAKE THE STATE THE LEAD IN THE CONSERVATION, MANAGEMENT, AND PROTECTION OF HAWAII'S NATURAL RESOURCES AND TO RESIST EFFORTS BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO EXPAND FEDERAL JURISDICTION OVER HAWAII'S NATURAL RESOURCES IN THE DESIGNATION OF CRITICAL HABITATS, EXPANSION OF CURRENT CO-MANAGER RELATIONSHIPS, OR THE CREATION OF NEW CO-MANAGER RELATIONSHIPS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request that the Department of Land and Natural Resources affirm its commitment to make the State and State law the leading authority in the conservation, management, and protection of Hawaii's natural resources and to resist efforts of the federal government to expand federal authority in management relationships and issue areas subject to joint state and federal jurisdiction.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, McCandless Ranch, Hawaii Sportsmen Alliance, and a few individuals.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources and The Hawaii Hunting Association submitted comments.

     Your Committee notes that concerns were raised in testimony on this measure about the importance of federal funding to the operational budget of the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Department's obligation to adhere to controlling provisions of federal law in several important areas of its operations.  It is not the intent of your Committee to jeopardize the Department's receipt of federal funding or to require actions that would violate federal law.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 145, S.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

CINDY EVANS, Chair