STAND. COM. REP. NO.408

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: H.B. No. 1529

H.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1529, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WATER POLLUTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to increase protection of Hawaii's waters by authorizing the right of citizens to sue violators of Hawaii's clean water laws.

Testimony in support was submitted by the Sierra Club and two private individuals.

Testimony in opposition was submitted by the Department of Environmental Services of the City and County of Honolulu, the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, the Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, and Hawaiian Electric Company.

Your Committee finds that the quality of life in Hawaii is significantly impacted by the cleanliness of the State's fresh and marine waters. Allowing private citizens to assist in the enforcement of the State's clean water requirements will thus promote the preservation of Hawaii's high quality of life.

Concerns were expressed regarding the methods in which the bill distinguished between discharge violations versus reporting violations, and the assessment of attorneys' fees and costs. However, after further deliberation, the Committee passed the measure without amendment in order to promote the overall purposes of the bill.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1529, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

ERIC G. HAMAKAWA, Chair