STAND. COM. REP. NO. 614

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 546

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 546, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE FUEL TANK ADVISORY COMMITTEE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Fuel Tank Advisory Committee to hold no fewer than one regular meeting in each quarter of a calendar year.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Land and Natural Resources, City and County of Honolulu Board of Water Supply, Our Revolution Hawaii, and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the Fuel Tank Advisory Committee was established in 2016 to study issues related to leaks at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, among other responsibilities. Annual meetings of the Advisory Committee were held until 2020. Due to the November 2021 fuel release at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, interest in the annual meetings became so great that semi-annual meetings were held in 2021 and 2022.

Your Committee further finds that requiring the Advisory Committee to hold quarterly meetings will allow for more timely disclosure of spill events and the responses to deal with them; better communication regarding current efforts for aquifer recovery and remediation; better opportunities for the public to present their concerns; and more coordination of members of the Advisory Committee to address concerns related to the Administrative Order on Consent.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 546, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health & Homelessness,

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair