STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 1323
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2023
RE: S.B. No. 426
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 Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water & Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 426, S.D. 2, 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 before January 1, 2030; and
(2) Priority level 2 cesspools to be upgraded,
converted, or connected before January 1, 2035.
Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority; Hawai‘i Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation Commission; University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program and Water Resources Research Center; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Surfrider Foundation, Hawai‘i Region; Public Access to SunScreens; Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition; Ulupono Initiative; Coral Reef Alliance; WAI: Wastewater Alternatives & Innovations; and eight individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from seven individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawai‘i Association of REALTORS.
Your Committees find that cesspool
pollution damages public health; pollutes drinking water; and lowers water
quality in streams, ground water, nearshore marine areas, and the ocean. Your Committees further find that the
Cesspool Conversion Working Group, when tasked with developing a long-range,
comprehensive plan for conversion of cesspools statewide by 2050, recommended
staggering the upgrades of cesspools based on their environmental impact. This measure implements the recommendation of
the Cesspool Conversion Working Group to more timely protect the health of
Hawaii's waters and marine ecosystems.
Your Committees have amended this measure
by:
(1) Including a planned development of sewerage upgrades to an area as a legitimate reason for an exemption from upgrading, converting, or connecting a cesspool;
(2) Authorizing the Department of Health to grant extensions of up to five years at a time for cesspool upgrades, conversions, or connections based on demonstration of financial inability to pay or finance a cesspool upgrade, conversion, or connection and to adopt rules necessary to grant those extensions;
(3) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and
(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
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 S.B. No. 426, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 426, S.D. 2, 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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