STAND. COM. REP. NO.  493

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1452

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 1452 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Health to take soil samples within five hundred meters of all military bases at least once every three months to monitor the levels of depleted uranium contamination.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from a Hawaii County Councilmember, Maui Peace Action, Malu Aina Center of Non-violent Education and Action, Hawaiian Political Action Council of Hawaii, and numerous individuals.  The Department of Health submitted testimony in opposition to this measure, citing its lack of staffing, instrumentation, and operating costs to conduct the required soil sampling.

 

     Your Committee is concerned that there is not sufficient information relating to the presence and detection of depleted uranium in the State and of the dangers of depleted uranium and its effects on human and animal life.  What is happening in areas of exclusive federal jurisdiction and out of the State's control may have lasting detrimental impacts on the environment and the health and safety of Hawaii residents.  Your Committee herein requests that the Department of Health give serious consideration to this matter and engage the Attorney General as to how best to protect public health and safety.  Given the grave seriousness of this public health issue, although this measure is inadequate to address the issue, your Committee finds it necessary to keep this vehicle alive to ensure further discussion on this matter.

 

     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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1452 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

HERMINA MORITA, Chair