STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1327

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

 

RE:   H.C.R. No. 97

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 97 entitled:

 

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ASSURE THAT ANY SUBSTANTIAL LAND DISCHARGE OF WASTEWATER, OCCURRING BY INJECTION WELL OR OTHER MEANS, IS IN ALL CASES, ADEQUATELY REVIEWED AND PERMITTED,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to protect the environment by requesting the Department of Health to:

 

     (1)  Assure that any substantial land discharge of wastewater, occurring by injection well or other means, is in all cases, adequately reviewed and permitted;

 

     (2)  Consider for inclusion, other discharge methods for wastewater, other than by injection well, in the review and permit process; and

 

     (3)  Adopt rules, pursuant to Chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to include other discharge methods for wastewater in the review and permit process.

 

     Two concerned individuals supported the measure.  The Department of Health submitted comments.

 


     Your Committee has amended the measure by:

 

     (1)  Requesting the Department of Health to assure that any land discharge of domestic wastewater over 1,000 gallons per day, occurring by injection well, seepage ponds, or seepage pits, is in all cases, adequately reviewed and permitted;

 

     (2)  No longer requesting the Department of Health to consider for the inclusion of other discharge methods for wastewater, other than by injection well, in the review and permit process;

 

     (3)  Requesting the Department of Health to adopt rules, pursuant to Chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to include seepage ponds and seepage pits in the review and permit process, or to consider prohibiting seepage ponds and seepage pits altogether; and

 

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments 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.C.R. No. 97, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 97, H.D. 1.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair