STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1566-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.C.R. No. 208

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 H.C.R. No. 208 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING HAWAII'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO URGE CONGRESS TO FUND CONSTRUCTION OF A LABORATORY CERTIFIED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC ON ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS IN THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge Hawaii's Congressional delegation to obtain federal funding for the construction of an Environmental Protection Agency certified laboratory to test for environmental toxins in the State and publish the results of its analyses to the public.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Honolulu Board of Water Supply; Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi; Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Americans for Democratic Action; and four individuals.

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 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 did not have 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 people. 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.

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 H.C.R. No. 208 and recommends its adoption.

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

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair