STAND. COM. REP. NO. 83

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 376

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 376 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit the mining, extraction, and removal of minerals from the seabed in all state marine waters.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawai‘i Reef Ocean Coalition, Parley for the Oceans, and five individuals.

Your Committees find that seabed mining poses an unacceptably high risk of damage and disruption to the State's marine environment and the globally significant ecosystems that host thousands of species, including protected and endangered species. Your Committees also recognize that seabed mining and related industries can threaten ocean-dependent industries, such as commercial and recreational fishing and tourism. Your Committees find seabed mining to be inconsistent with the public interest of the State, therefore this measure will prohibit any such related-activity from occurring in state marine waters.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting recommended language from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs that protects privileges and practices of Native Hawaiians; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 376, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 376, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land,

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair