STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1222

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: S.B. No. 367

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water & Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 367, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WATER QUALITY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to waive the requirement for section 401 water quality certification for certain small-scale beach restoration projects authorized by the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Mayor of the County of Maui, Waikīkī Beach Special Improvement District Association, and Hawaii Shore and Beach Preservation Association. Your Committees received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committees find that it is critical for the State to promote adaptive ecosystem-based management approaches, such as beach restoration and maintenance projects, to mitigate chronic beach erosion. This measure allows for better cooperation among various governmental, private, and community stakeholders and reduces costs and administrative barriers in addressing coastal erosion and restoring critical beach resources.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water & Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 367, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 367, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water & Land,

____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair

____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair