STAND. COM. REP. 1509

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.C.R. No. 55

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Economic Development and Business Concerns and Energy and Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 55 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM TO ASSIST IN THE ACCOMMODATION OF A PLASMA-ARC TORCH FACILITY IN THE STATE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to:

(1) Promote alternative methods of managing solid waste; and

(2) Reduce the State's dependence on landfills,

by requesting the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) to assist in the accommodation of a plasma-arc torch facility in the State.

The Hokupili Foundation and the president of the Waianae Kai Hawaiian Homestead Association supported this measure. DBEDT offered comments.

Your Committees recognize the potential value of plasma-arc torch facilities in addressing the health and environmental problems associated with hazardous wastes. However, your

Committees note that DBEDT's Business Action Center may be better suited to facilitate the introduction of a plasma-arc torch facility in the State.

Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the provision that requests DBEDT to assist in the accommodation of a plasma-arc torch facility in the State;

(2) Deleting the provisions that request DBEDT to:

(A) Educate prospective applicants on the regulatory requirements and processes;

(B) Assist prospective applicants with all permitting applications; and

(C) Educate the counties and public on the relative benefits of plasma-arc torch technology as compared to current landfill disposal practices;

(3) Requesting DBEDT's Business Action Center to coordinate and facilitate the project review and permitting process of a plasma-arc torch facility in the State;

(4) Changing the title of this measure to reflect the provisions established under (3); and

(5) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of style and clarity.

Your Committees note that other technologies and other businesses also face complex, highly-layered permitting processes and support future legislative efforts to address this concern.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Economic Development and Business Concerns and Energy and Environmental Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 55, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 55, H.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Economic Development and Business Concerns and Energy and Environmental Protection,

 

____________________________

HERMINA M. MORITA, Chair

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BRIAN SCHATZ, Chair