STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1935

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 126

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 126, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS REGARDING FUGITIVE DUST,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service to take certain actions regarding fugitive dust.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that in windy conditions, large dust storms can originate from former agricultural lands in the State that have become vacant, depositing topsoil into the ocean and thereby damaging the reefs and the marine environment, as well as detrimentally affecting the health of nearby residents. Your Committee further finds that although the Department of Health's Clean Air Branch regulates the discharge of fugitive dust in the State and imposes penalties for violations, existing rules do not require land owners to have fugitive dust mitigation plans approved by the Director of Health and the existing penalty structure does not consider the scale of the dust emission. This measure urges the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service to take various actions to prevent and address the detrimental effects of fugitive dust arising from vacant undeveloped land.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 126, H.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair