STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3588

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 228

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Government Operations, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 228 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO REIMBURSE HAWAII FOR DEBRIS REMOVAL, THE DREDGING OF TOXIC MATERIALS, AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP EFFORTS IN LAHAINA HARBOR,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the federal government to reimburse Hawaii for the removal of debris, dredging of toxic materials, and other environmental cleanup efforts in Lahaina Harbor.

Your Committee did not receive any testimony on this measure.

Your Committee finds that Lahaina Harbor's waters are inundated with debris and toxic chemicals resulting from the August 2023 Maui wildfires. Your Committee also recognizes the concerns raised during the public hearing for this measure that failure to engage in the environmental cleanup of Lahaina Harbor now with federal funds could have greater impacts later on. Accordingly, this measure will help the State offset the high costs of recovery as the County of Maui continues to rebuild.

Your Committee notes that, in meeting with the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), it was represented that a request for reimbursement of the cost for debris removal was denied by the federal government; however, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in response to subsequent inquiries, responded that it never received such a request from DLNR and is open to it. Your Committee hopes that DLNR and FEMA will come to the table to discuss this matter before subsequent deliberations of this measure, as there is a time limit to request federal funds for this important cleanup.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 228 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Government Operations,

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ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair