STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2028

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 138

S.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 Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.R. No. 138 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS TO RELOCATE ALL LIVE FIRE TRAINING AND AVIATION ACTIVITY AWAY FROM PUULOA RANGE TRAINING FACILITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the United States Marine Corps to relocate all live fire training and aviation activity away from Puuloa Range Training Facility.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from two members of the Ewa Neighborhood Board, Surfrider Foundation, Hui o Ho‘ohonua, Ulu A‘e Learning Center, and nine individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the United States Marine Corps and eight individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Military Affairs Council.

Your Committee finds that the noise pollution, risk of stray bullets, and environmental impact of the Puuloa Range Training Facility have negatively impacted the health and safety of residents living near the facility for decades. Your Committee believes that locating a large shooting facility in a densely populated residential community is detrimental to the well-being of the residents. This measure will address the community's concerns about the environmental harm, noise pollution, and other dangers associated with the facility's open-air ranges.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Expanding the list of recipients of certified copies of the Resolution to include the:

(A) Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration;

(B) Commander of the Indo-Pacific Command;

(C) Commander of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific;

(D) Commanding General of the Marine Installations Pacific;

(E) Commander of Marine Corps Base Hawaii;

(F) Members of Hawaii's Congressional Delegation;

(G) Governor;

(H) Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources;

(I) Director of Health;

(J) Director of the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development;

(K) Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu; and

(L) Chairperson of the Honolulu City Council; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 138, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 138, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

________________________________

GLENN WAKAI, Chair