STAND. COM. REP. 3395

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: S.C.R. No. 40

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 40 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING HAWAII'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO URGE THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE AND EXAMINE THE ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS OF CELLULAR AND RADIO ANTENNA TOWERS IN THE WAIAWA "PEARL CITY" INDUSTRIAL AREA, AND IF NECESSARY, TO REQUIRE THE REMOVAL OF ANY UNUSED OR POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ANTENNAS THAT POSE A HEALTH RISK,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge an investigation by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) into the possible health risks presented by radio and cellular antenna towers in the Waiawa "Pearl City" industrial area.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the senator from the eighteenth senatorial district of the State of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that antennas generate electromagnetic waves that radiate from the transmitter to rooftop TV antennas, car radio antennas, or antennas integrated into a hand-held device such as a cellular phone. The scientific research indicates that there are potentially adverse health effects on human tissue from radiofrequency (RF) energy emitted by transmitters. The FCC, which oversees cellular phones and personal communications service transmissions, and regulates the use of radio spectrum for communications purposes, reportedly receives frequent inquiries regarding the potential safety hazards of exposure to RF energy.

Your Committee further finds that the Waiawa "Pearl City" industrial area on Oahu has several radio antenna towers located in the midst of densely populated areas, and that residents in the areas have expressed concerns about possible health risks presented by the antennas. Therefore, this measure requests Hawaii's congressional delegation to urge the FCC to investigate the adverse health effects of radio and cellular antenna towers in the Waiawa "Pearl City" industrial area, and if warranted, to require the removal of unused and potentially dangerous antennas.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 40 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing,

____________________________

RON MENOR, Chair