STAND. COM. REP. 3346

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: S.C.R. No. 212

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water, Land, and Agriculture and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 212 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO CONDUCT A THOROUGH EVALUATION OF THE CONDITION OF THE 187-ACRE PROPERTY SITUATED IN WAIKANE VALLEY THAT WAS USED BY THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS FOR ORDNANCE TRAINING UNTIL 1976, PLAN FOR AND CONDUCT AS THOROUGH A CLEAN-UP AND REMOVAL OF ORDNANCE AS IS TECHNOLOGICALLY POSSIBLE, CONDUCT AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF THE POTENTIAL RISK TO HUMAN HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND RETURN THE LAND TO THE STATE OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the federal government to conduct an evaluation of the condition of the Waikane Training Area, conduct a thorough clean-up as is technologically possible, conduct a post-clean-up environmental assessment evaluating the potential risks to human health and safety, return the area to the State of Hawaii upon completion of the clean-up, and appropriate sufficient funds to plan for, implement, and complete the rehabilitation and transfer of the Waikane Training Area.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Thirty-three years ago, the United States Marine Corps obtained 187 acres in Waikane Valley, commonly referred to as the "Waikane Training Area," for military jungle and live ordnance training. The United States Marine Corps has announced its intention to close the Waikane Training Area, but as recently as last year, the United States Marine Corps has sought to use Waikane Valley for more military jungle training.

Your Committees find that Waikane Valley has served historically as an important agricultural area for the island of Oahu and contains precious archaeological and historic sites.

Your Committees further find that with sufficient funding from existing restoration programs or special appropriations from Congress, or both, the United States Navy and Marine Corps have the means to clean up the Waikane Training Area to a condition that is reasonably safe for certain restricted uses, provided long-term monitoring and guidelines are established.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water, Land, and Agriculture and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 212 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water, Land, and Agriculture and Transportation, Military Affairs, and Government Operations,

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CAL KAWAMOTO, Chair

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair