STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1786

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.R.  No. 39

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.R. No. 39 entitled:

 

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING ALL BRANCHES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO PROHIBIT DUMPING OF VESSEL SEWAGE WITHIN THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS HUMPBACK WHALE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this resolution is to protect the water quality of, and thereby the aquatic life in, the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary (Whale and Marine Sanctuary) by requesting United States government agencies to prohibit the dumping of vessel sewage within the boundaries of the Whale Marine Sanctuary by creating a no-discharge zone and requiring federal agencies to adopt necessary regulations.

 

     The Cetacea Defence Organisation-United Kingdom and numerous concerned individuals submitted testimony in support of this resolution.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) supported the intent of this measure.

 

     Your Committee finds that:

 

     (1)  The economic implications to our tourism-based economy of;

 

     (2)  The large number and diversity of users and uses of; and

 

     (3)  The critical habitats, such as the breeding ground of the endangered North Pacific humpback whale, and complex ecosystems of marine life populations within;

 

Hawaii's ocean resources require that the ocean area where vessels are prohibited from dumping sewage be expanded beyond the boundaries of the Whale and Marine Sanctuary.  Accordingly, your Committee has amended this resolution by:

 

     (1)  Changing its title to read as follows:

 

"REQUESTING ALL BRANCHES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO PROHIBIT DUMPING OF VESSEL SEWAGE IN FEDERAL WATERS IN THE VICINITY OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS HUMPBACK WHALE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY;"

 

     (2)  Requesting the United States Congress to prohibit the dumping of vessel sewage, not only in the Whale and Marine Sanctuary, but also in federal waters in the vicinity of the Hawaiian islands;

 

     (3)  Clarifying that Maui County provides reimbursements to vessel operators for pumping sewage from their vessels at Maalaea Harbor via mobile pump trucks for land-based treatment;

 

     (4)  Clarifying that the permanent sewage treatment facilities at certain harbors provided by the State are land-based facilities; and

 

     (5)  Requesting the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation of DLNR to develop a plan to implement the use of "pump-don't dump" stations for the disposal of vessel sewage at land-based sewage treatment facilities.

 

     Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 39, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 39, H.D. 1.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

HERMINA MORITA, Chair