STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1914-24

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2024

 

RE:   S.C.R. No. 131

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 131, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING HAWAII'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO TAKE ALL ACTIONS NECESSARY AND PROPER TO CAUSE THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO FUND THE CONSTRUCTION AND COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS OF A LABORATORY CERTIFIED BY THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY TO ANALYZE ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS IN THE STATE AND PUBLISH THE RESULTS TO THE PUBLIC,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to urge Hawaii's Congressional delegation to take all actions necessary and proper to cause the United States Congress to fund the construction and commencement of operations of a laboratory certified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency to analyze environmental toxins in the State and publish its results to the public.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Honolulu Board of Water Supply; Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; and two individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

 

     Your Committee finds that although section 321-29.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, was enacted in 2022 to mandate the Department of Health to establish and operate a toxicology laboratory designed to test for diseases as well as air and water quality issues, no such laboratory has yet been funded or constructed.  Following the November 2021 Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility release of fuel and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances containing aqueous film forming foam, the Department of Health's laboratory lacked the capability to evaluate the presence of toxins in water, so the State had to send samples to the continental United States and wait nearly one month for a determination of the toxicity level of exposure of nearly one hundred thousand individuals.  Your Committee further finds that a local facility that can test for diseases and air and water quality issues and provide the public with timely analyses of environmental toxins would significantly aid in preventing contamination of the water supply and mitigating threats to Hawaii's environment and public health.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing its title accordingly;

 

     (2)  Clarifying the lack of adequate testing laboratory facilities in the State that can expeditiously identify diseases and toxins; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 131, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 131, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.

 


 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair