STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 108
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2023
RE: H.B. No. 181
H.D. 1
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2023
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 181 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CESSPOOLS,"
beg leave to report as follows:
(1) Priority level 1 cesspools to be upgraded, converted, or connected by 2030; and
(2) Priority level 2 cesspools to be upgraded, converted, or connected by 2035.
Your Committees
received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and
Natural Resources, Department of Health, University of Hawai‘i
Sea Grant College Program, University of Hawai‘i
Water Resources Research Center, County of Hawai‘i
Department of Environmental Management, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic
Party of Hawai‘i,
Hawai‘i
Reef and Ocean Coalition, WAI: Wastewater Alternatives & Innovations,
and four individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from
the Hawai‘i
Association of REALTORS.
Your Committees find that the Cesspool
Conversion Working Group, established by Act 132, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018,
was tasked to develop a long-range, comprehensive plan for conversion of
cesspools statewide by 2050 and consider and recommend means by which the Department
of Health can ensure that cesspools are converted to more
environmentally-responsible waste treatment systems or connected to sewer
systems. One of the recommendations by
the working group was to stagger the upgrades of cesspools and prioritize them
based on their environmental impact.
Therefore, this measure accelerates the timeline for required upgrades,
conversions, or connections of cesspools that cause the most pollution and
represent the greatest contamination hazards in the State.
Your Committees have amended this measure
by:
(1) Updating references to the cesspool hazard assessment and prioritization tool; and
(2) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion.
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 H.B. No. 181, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 181, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water & Land,
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____________________________ LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair |
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____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair |
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