HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

765

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 2

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO COASTAL PLANNING.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


PART I

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that sea level rise is the preeminent challenge and a pivotal issue for the State.  The legislature in 2017 created the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission through Act 32, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017, and tasked the commission to focus on sea level rise and develop a report identifying vulnerabilities and recommending adaptations.  The commission published its Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report in December 2017.  The report found that warming of the global atmosphere and ocean is leading to sea level rise and studies of sea level rise predict between 3.2 feet and six feet of sea level rise by 2100 under the high-end Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change scenario.  Under these conditions, Hawaii will face increased hurricane risk and coastal flooding and erosion hazards from high waves and storms.

     The legislature further finds that the commission's report recommended the following adaptation strategies:

     (1)  Ensuring that development does not take place in areas subject to coastal hazards associated with sea level rise; and

     (2)  Requiring that new development is built to be more resilient to sea level rise.

Planning for sea level rise is necessary to protect coastal structures, infrastructure, and environments.

     The purpose of this part is to require the incorporation of sea level rise projections in all new state plans and updates to existing state plans generated under the Hawaii State Planning Act pursuant to chapter 226, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 226, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§226-     Sea level rise; plans.  The State shall incorporate evaluations, predictions, and recommendations pertaining to sea level rise projections in the preparation of new plans and updates to existing plans.  All new plans and updates shall incorporate findings of the most recent version of the sea level rise vulnerability and adaptation report prepared by the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission pursuant to section 225P-3(n)."

     SECTION 3.  Chapter 269, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§269-     Sea level rise; plans.  The commission shall incorporate evaluations, predictions, and recommendations pertaining to sea level rise projections in the preparation of new plans and updates to existing plans.  All new plans and updates shall incorporate findings of the most recent version of the sea level rise vulnerability and adaptation report prepared by the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission pursuant to section 225P-3(n)."

PART II

     SECTION 4.  The legislature finds that it is appropriate to implement sound practices that reduce negative impacts of large scale construction projects so that the State may protect the environment, ensure the supply of clean water, and preserve the ecosystem and the quality of the natural environment.

     The legislature notes that the Ala Wai watershed, located in the city and county of Honolulu, encompasses approximately nineteen square miles, or 12,064 acres, and extends from the ridge of the Koolau mountains to the nearshore waters of Mamala bay, and includes Makiki, Manoa, and Palolo Streams, which drain into the Ala Wai canal.  The canal is owned and maintained by the State, and the United States Army Corps of Engineers has coordinated with the State and city and county of Honolulu since 2001 to develop a plan to mitigate flooding in the Ala Wai watershed if a major, once-in-a-century storm occurs.

     The purpose of this part is to mitigate the negative impacts of watershed and coastal flooding by appropriating moneys for the facilitation of stakeholder communications and public engagement related to environmental protection, clean waters, ecosystem preservation and restoration, and community and cultural considerations of the Ala Wai watershed and surrounding areas.

     SECTION 5.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $        or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the mitigation of the negative impacts of watershed and coastal flooding through the facilitation of stakeholder communications and public engagement related to environmental protection, clean waters, ecosystem preservation and restoration, and community and cultural considerations of the Ala Wai watershed and surrounding areas.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the office of planning for the purposes of this part.

PART III

     SECTION 6.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 7.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2035.



 

Report Title:

Hawaii State Planning Act; Sea Level Rise; PUC; Ala Wai Watershed; Appropriation

 

Description:

Requires incorporation of sea level rise projections in all new plans and updates to existing state plans generated under the Hawaii State Planning Act and the plans of the Public Utilities Commission.  Appropriates funds for the facilitation of stakeholder communications and public engagement related to environmental protection, clean waters, ecosystem preservation and restoration, and community and cultural consideration of the Ala Wai watershed and surrounding areas.  Effective 7/1/2035.  (SD2)

 

 

 

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