STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2998

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 979

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 979, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to temporarily authorize the use of the special land and development fund and the land conservation fund to support invasive species control and mitigation, reforestation, and sediment run-off mitigation.

 

     Your Committee received comments in opposition to this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Conservation Council for Hawaii, The Nature Conservancy, the Oahu Land Trust, the Trust for Public Land, and two concerned individuals.  The written comments may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committee finds that invasive species, deforestation, and sediment run-off continue to threaten Hawaii's natural environment.  Your Committee acknowledges concerns about charging additional expenses to these dwindling special funds, but your Committee finds that it is crucial to continue to fund programs that will eliminate or mitigate these threats to our natural environment.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 979, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

____________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair