STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1765-06

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2006

RE: H.R. No. 195

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.R. No. 195 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO ESTABLISH AN AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDE DISPOSAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this resolution is to protect and preserve Hawaii's natural environment by requesting the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to establish a Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program (Disposal Program) that would reduce the amount of pesticides that could contaminate our water and land.

The Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, C&H Farms, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, and Maui County Farm Bureau supported this measure. The Hawaiian Alliance for Responsible Technology & Science and Hawaii Pest Control Association supported this measure and suggested amendments. DOA supported the intent of this measure.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that pesticide users who control pests in and around structures are also confronted with challenges in the disposal of their containers and that it is desirable to include these containers in the Disposal Program;

(2) Deleting the provision requesting DOA to create a task force to coordinate the establishment of the proposed Disposal Program;

(3) Requesting the Pesticides Advisory Committee to study the establishment of the proposed Disposal Program, in consultation with a representative from each county and a representative from the pesticides industry, and submit a report to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2007; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for style, clarity, and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Energy & Environmental Protection that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 195, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 195, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Energy & Environmental Protection,

 

____________________________

HERMINA MORITA, Chair

____________________________

FELIPE P. ABINSAY, JR., Chair