STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1652

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 135

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 S.C.R. No. 135 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE LEGISLATURE TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP WITH REPRESENTATION FROM ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM TO PHASE OUT THE USE OF PERFLUOROALKYL AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS) IN THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Legislature to convene a working group with representation from all levels of government to develop a program to phase out the use of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Americans for Democratic Action Hawai‘i, Shimanchu Wai Protectors, Agriculture and Food Security Committee of the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Our Revolution Hawaii, and fifty individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the American Chemistry Council and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health and Island Energy.

Your Committee finds that Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of chemicals, also known as forever chemicals, that are widely used and found in a variety of products that do not break down in the environment. These chemicals can persist and move through soils and drinking water sources; bioaccumulate in fish and wildlife and move through the food chain; and have been linked to growth and development defects, reproductive health issues, and other detrimental health effects. Your Committee further finds that according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Health, the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility leakage of 2021 led to significantly high levels of PFAS in ground water samples. Therefore, this measure requests the formation of a PFAS Working Group with representatives from all levels of government to develop a program to phase out the use of PFAS in the State.

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 S.C.R. No. 135 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