STAND. COM. REP. NO. ‘tPS‘
Honolulu, Hawaii
MAR 3 D 2023
RE: S.C.R. NO. 95
S.D. l
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty—Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2023
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred
S.C.R. No. 95 entitled:
"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND
AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO PROTECT HAWAII'S WATERS AND
RESOURCES BY PROHIBITING SEABED MINING, "
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the
Department of Land and Natural Resources to protect Hawaii's
waters and resources by prohibiting seabed mining.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition and Ocean Tourism
Coalition.
Your Committee finds that the high demand for metals used in
everyday devices such as cellphones, computers, and cars
——
has ——
pushed the mining industry to explore the world's deepest oceans
where vast quantities of these critical materials are present.
Your Committee further finds that while seabed mining might
present a tremendous financial opportunity for some, those gains
must be weighed against the potential damage to the environment
and marine ecosystems that might result from such an activity,
which in some cases may be irreversible. Your Committee finds
that annually, Hawaii's pristine waters provide residents with
approximately $13,400,000 from fishing and an estimated
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COM. REP. No.
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$1,230,000,000 from tourism, which could easily be placed at risk
due to seabed mining. Therefore, this measure urges the
Department of Land and Natural Resources to prohibit seabed mining
in state waters to preserve Hawaii's irreplaceable ocean and
marine ecosystems that are integral to the State's economy and
unique island culture.
Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical,
nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and
consistency.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your
Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 95, as
amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached
hereto as S.C.R. No. 95, S.D. l.
Respectfully submitted on
behalf of the members of the
Committee on Water and Land,
LORRRNE'R. INOtk Chair /
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 The Senate
Thirty-Second Legislature
State of Hawai‘i
Record of Votes
Committee on Water and Land
WTL
Bill / Resolution No.:* Committee Referral: Date:
$62 a5 WTL 2/24/23
D The Committee is reconsidering its previous decision on this measure.
If so, then the previous decision was to:
The Recommendation is:
D Pass, unamended
2312
EPass,with amendments
2311
D Hold
231 0
D Recommit
231 3
Members
INOUYE, Lorraine R. (C) //
Aye Aye (WR) Nay Excused
ELEFANTE, Brandon J.C. (VC)
CHANG, Stanley /J
MCKELVEY, Angus L.K.
FEVELLA, Kurt /
TOTAL Li— (b ¢
Recommendation:
Adopted D Not Adopted
Distribution: Orgnalv K’fefi/ Pink Goldenrod
File with Committee Report Clerk's Office Drafting Agency Committee File Copy
*Only one measure per Record of Votes
Revised: 11/30/22