STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1863

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 102

H.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 102, H.D. 2, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF PLANNING, IN COLLABORATION WITH VARIOUS AGENCIES, TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO ESTABLISH A STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY IN HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Office of Planning, in collaboration with the Department of Land and Natural Resources, University of Hawaii, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Department of Transportation, and the appropriate county planning departments and county emergency management agencies to develop a plan to establish a state geological survey in Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Office of Planning. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii is the only state in the nation without a geological survey and one of only two states that have never received federal funds to perform geological surveys. Your Committee further finds that establishing a state geological survey in Hawaii would organize the State's mapping capability, allow the State to compete for federal funds to complete geological mapping projects, and provide a broader range of geological information for the public and state decision-makers to use in watershed management and hazard mitigation.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 102, H.D. 2, and recommends its adoption.

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

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair