STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2831

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 552, 553, 554, 555

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 552, 553, 554, and 555, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Board of Certification of Operating Personnel in Wastewater Treatment Plants

 

G.M. No. 552

KEVIN NAKAMURA,

for a term to expire 06-30-2019;

 

G.M. No. 553

LOREN TANIGAWA,

for a term to expire 06-30-2019;

 

G.M. No. 554

ROGER BABCOCK,

for a term to expire 06-30-2019; and

 

G.M. No. 555

VIRGILIO VIERNES,

for a term to expire 06-30-2017,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Kevin Nakamura, Loren Tanigawa, Roger Babcock, and Virgilio Viernes to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Board of Certification of Operating Personnel in Wastewater Treatment Plants.

 


KEVIN NAKAMURA

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Kevin Nakamura from the Department of Health.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Nakamura's knowledge, background, and proven leadership on the Board of Certification of Operating Personnel in Wastewater Treatment Plants qualify him for reappointment to the Board as the Hawaii Water Environment Association representative.  Your Committee notes that Mr. Nakamura is presently an Environmental Health Specialist with the Department of Health where he is responsible for safeguarding public health through prevention, abatement, and control of noise pollution in the State.  Mr. Nakamura has also been a licensed wastewater treatment Plant Operator for the past twenty-five years and has a wide variety of previous work experience in the field of wastewater treatment as a wastewater treatment plant operator, supervisor, and superintendent.  Your Committee further finds that Mr. Nakamura's passion to protect the State's precious resources and past experiences in wastewater treatment operations will continue to enhance the effectiveness of the Board.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Mr. Nakamura be reappointed to the Board of Certification of Operating Personnel in Wastewater Treatment Plants, as an individual from the Department of Health, based on his background, experience, and dedication to serving the community.

 

LOREN TANIGAWA

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Loren Tanigawa from the Department of Health and four individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Tanigawa's experience, background, and proven leadership on the Board of Certification of Operating Personnel in Wastewater Treatment Plants qualify him for reappointment to the Board as the Kauai County representative.  Your Committee notes that Mr. Tanigawa is presently the Head Operator at the Wailua Wastewater Treatment Plant in Lihue and holds a grade IV wastewater treatment plant operator certificate.  Your Committee further finds that with over ten years of experience in the field of wastewater treatment, Mr. Tanigawa's background allows him to better understand the challenges of the profession when assisting with training and teaching future wastewater treatment plant operators.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Mr. Tanigawa be reappointed to the Board of Certification of Operating Personnel in Wastewater Treatment Plants based on his experience, knowledge, and dedication to serving the community.

 

ROGER BABCOCK

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Roger Babcock from the Department of Health and three individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Babcock's experience, background, and proven leadership on the Board of Certification of Operating Personnel in Wastewater Treatment Plants qualify him for reappointment to the Board as the engineering faculty member.  Your Committee notes that Mr. Babcock is presently an associate professor in the College of Engineering at the University of Hawaii, specializing in wastewater treatment, disposal, and recycling.  Mr. Babcock also serves on several other professional and community boards, including the American Society of Civil Engineers, Hawaii Water Environment Association, and Mililani Town Association.  Your Committee further finds that because Mr. Babcock has served on the Board from 1997 to 2003 and 2011 to 2015, he is familiar with how the Board functions in serving the public and wastewater operators in the State.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Mr. Babcock be reappointed to the Board of Certification of Operating Personnel in Wastewater Treatment Plants, as a member of the engineering faculty of a university or college in the State, based on his background, experience, and dedication to serving the community.

 

VIRGILIO VIERNES

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Virgilio Viernes from the Department of Health and two individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Viernes's experience, background, and proven leadership on the Board of Certification of Operating Personnel in Wastewater Treatment Plants qualify him for reappointment to the Board as the Maui County representative.  Your Committee notes that Mr. Viernes is presently a Wastewater Treatment Operations Manager for Maui County's Department of Environmental Management and holds a grade IV wastewater treatment plant operator certificate.  Mr. Viernes also has experience as a nuclear propulsion plant mechanical operator for the United States Navy.  Your Committee further finds that Mr. Viernes has served on the Board since 2010 and has continued his involvement in the field of wastewater treatment operations, and is dedicated to enhancing the wastewater treatment industry.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Mr. Viernes be reappointed to the Board of Certification of Operating Personnel in Wastewater Treatment Plants based on his background, experience, and dedication to serving the community.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that are attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

 

 

 

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair