STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1758

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.C.R. No. 24

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 24 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO PROTECT HAWAII'S WATERS AND RESOURCES BY PROHIBITING SEABED MINING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Department of Land and Natural Resources to prohibit mining of the seabed within Hawaii state waters.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory, Ocean Tourism Coalition, Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition, Climate Protectors Hawai‘i, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the ocean is of significant economic, environmental, and cultural importance to the State. Your Committee further finds that seabed mining could negatively impact the State's marine waters and ecosystems. This measure would ensure that the State takes a precautionary approach to the potential harms of seabed mining.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 24 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair