STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1584

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 376

S.D. 2

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 Water & Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 376, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit:

(1) The mining, extraction, and removal of minerals from the seabed in all state marine waters; and

(2) The issuance of any permit for or in connection with the development or operation of any facility or infrastructure associated with the mining, extraction, or removal of minerals from the seabed within state marine waters.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Hawai‘i State Youth Commission; Friends of Hanauma Bay; Wild Kids; Surfrider Foundation, Hawai‘i Region; Sustainable Ocean Alliance Hawai‘i; Parley for the Oceans, Hawai‘i; Sierra Club of Hawai‘i; Hawai‘i Youth Climate Coalition; Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund; Kauai Women's Caucus; Mālama Pūpūkea-Waimea; Hawai‘i's Thousand Friends; Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition; Sustainable Coastlines Hawai‘i; Deep Sea Mining Campaign; National Parks Conservation Association; 350Hawaii.org; Oceanic Preservation Society; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Rev Ocean; Blue Climate Initiative; Tetiaroa Society; Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory; The Conservationist Collective; The Marine Mammal Center; Marine Conservation Institute; The Ocean Foundation; Greenpeace USA; HULIPAC; Te Ipukarea Society; Animal Welfare Institute; For the Fishes; and fifteen individuals.

Your Committee finds that the State's marine waters contain globally significant ecosystems that are rich in biodiversity. Your Committee further finds that seabed mining poses an unacceptably high risk of damage and disruption to the marine environment of the State. This measure ensures the protection and preservation of the State's valuable marine waters by prohibiting seabed mining and related activities.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 376, S.D. 2, 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 Water & Land,

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair