Report Title:

Task force – cruise ships

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

114

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING tHE FORMATION OF A TASK FORCE TO EXAMINE ISSUES RELATED TO CRUISE SHIPS.

 

 

WHEREAS, Honolulu's harbor is home to a variety, of economic, commercial and recreational uses; and

WHEREAS, ships from all over the world sail into Honolulu Harbor, traveling to and from various international destinations; and

WHEREAS, the Governor's stated intention is to promote the development of the cruise ship industry as part of a plan for economic development and tourism diversification; and

WHEREAS, while the Legislature generally endorses such promotions; it also recognizes that there are a number of considerations that must be evaluated prior to undertaking a full implementation of this proposal; and

WHEREAS, there are many environmental concerns surrounding an increase in the number of cruise ships entering Honolulu Harbor, primarily including the potential importation of alien species by these ships and the discharge of wastewater from these vessels into our state's waters; and

WHEREAS, there are additional environmental concerns related to air emissions and solid waste management; and

WHEREAS, there are issues which need to be addressed regarding the fueling and birthing of these vessels; and

WHEREAS, the regulation oversight of these ships is diffused among various state agencies including the Department of Transportation, the Department of Health and the Department of Land and Natural Resources; and

WHEREAS, these agencies have yet to date clearly and collaboratively identified all the issues which must be addressed collectively and also have not specified what permits will be required to serve an expanded cruise ship industry; and

WHEREAS, legislation was introduced this session to prohibit the dumping of waste from cruise ships into state waters, but was not advanced in part because of testimony from some departments that the legislation might be unnecessary or premature; and

WHEREAS, the legislature is concerned that although legislation might be unwarranted at this time, it nevertheless is appropriate for the state to be prepared to address the environmental and social impacts of an expanded cruise ship industry; and

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2001, that a task force be convened to examine issues related to the expansion of the cruise ship industry as set forth in this resolution; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force include representatives from the Department of Health, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Land and Natural Resources and other state agencies deemed appropriate and representative of the cruise ship industry; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force review the issues as set forth here in and identify the range of permits required to ensure proper regulation oversights and that the task force make additional recommendations to ensure that the expansion of the cruise ship industry will not compromise the states natural resources and environmental beauty; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force specifically examine the issue of whether the state of Hawaii should petition the US States Environmental Protection Agency to establish a "No Discharge Zone" within the state's waters as a means of protecting our waters from cruise ship pollution; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force submit a report of its findings twenty days before the beginning of the 2002 Legislature along with any recommendations for legislative action which might be necessary to make effective its recommendations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Director of Health, the Director of Transportation, the Chairman of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, and the Director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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