STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1767

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.R. No. 95

      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. 95 entitled:

 

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING A REVIEW OF AMBIENT AIR STANDARDS FOR HYDROGEN SULFIDE EMISSIONS TO SUSTAIN AND PROTECT THE NATURAL BEAUTY AND AIR QUALITY OF THE KA IWI COASTLINE BETWEEN MAKAPUU AND HANAUMA BAY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this resolution is to remedy the noxious odor of hydrogen sulfide emanating from the East Honolulu Sewage Treatment Plant by requesting the Department of Health (DOH) to review the existing ambient air standards for hydrogen sulfide emissions and requesting the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to require the treatment plant to strictly comply with odor standards and further control hydrogen sulfide emissions and odors.

 

     A concerned individual submitted testimony in support of this resolution.  The Hawaii Agricultural Research Center, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Alexander & Baldwin, Inc., and Gay & Robinson, Inc., opposed this measure.  PUC commented on this resolution.

 

     Your Committee finds that hydrogen sulfide emissions are a statewide concern, rather than site specific to the Ka Iwi coastline between Makapuu and Hanauma Bay on the island of Oahu.  Further, the monitoring and regulation of hydrogen sulfide emissions are more appropriately within the scope of DOH, rather than PUC.  Accordingly, your Committee has amended this resolution by:

 

     (1)  Changing its title to read as follows:

 

"REQUESTING A REVIEW OF AMBIENT AIR STANDARDS FOR HYDROGEN SULFIDE EMISSIONS TO SUSTAIN AND PROTECT THE NATURAL BEAUTY AND AIR QUALITY OF THE STATE";

 

     (2)  Deleting all matters referencing the PUC, East Honolulu Treatment Plant, Hawaii American Water Works, and the Ka Iwi shoreline;

 

     (3)  Adding a discussion relating to the development and establishment of the current ambient air quality standard; and

 

     (4)  Reducing the number of transmittees of this resolution to only the Director of Health.

 

     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. 95, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 95, H.D. 1.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

HERMINA MORITA, Chair