STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1245

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: H.B. No. 1536

H.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy, Environment, and International Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1536, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ALA WAI CANAL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate state matching funds for the Ala Wai trash trap cleanup project.

Testimony in support of the measure was offered by the general manager of Banana Plantation, Inc., the awardee of EPA grant monies for the project. Testimony in opposition to the measure was given by the Board of Land and Natural Resources. The Department of Health offered comments.

The trash trap project proposes to use an automated conveyor belt to remove floating trash at the trap by the Ala Moana bridge over the Ala Wai. The Department of Health administers EPA grant money for projects to control nonpoint source pollution. After a competitive process, Banana Plantation, Inc., was selected to receive a $200,000 EPA grant contingent upon obtaining matching funds. Testimony indicates that while the Department of Land and Natural Resources at one time may have supported the project, it no longer does.

Your Committee finds that the trash removal project on the Ala Wai Canal has merit. However, your Committee is concerned that if the project lacks the support of the executive branch that the project will very likely fail to obtain matching funds. Your Committee recommends to the awardee that it obtain a commitment from the executive branch, prior to a hearing before the Committee on Ways and Means, stating that it supports providing matching funds for the project.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy, Environment, and International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1536, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy, Environment, and International Affairs,

____________________________

J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair