STAND. COM. REP. NO. -24
Honolulu, Hawaii
APR15 ,2024
RE: S.C.R. No. 131
S.D. 1
H.D. 1
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2024
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred S.C.R.
No. 131, S.D. 1, entitled:
“SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING HAWAII’S CONGRESSIONAL
DELEGATION TO TAKE ALL ACTIONS NECESSARY AND PROPER TO CAUSE
THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO FUND THE CONSTRUCTION AND
COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS OF A LABORATORY CERTIFIED BY THE
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY TO ANALYZE
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS IN THE STATE AND PUBLISH THE RESULTS TO
THE PUBLIC,”
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to urge Hawaii’s Congressional
delegation to take all actions necessary and proper to cause the
United States Congress to fund the construction and commencement
of operations of a laboratory certified by the United States
Environmental Protection Agency to analyze environmental toxins in
the State and publish its results to the public.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Honolulu Board of Water Supply; Sierra Club of Hawai’i;
Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai’i; and two
individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure
from the Department of Health.
2024—2857 SCR131 HD1 HSCR HMSO
 STAND. COM. REP. NO. -24
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Your Committee finds that although section 321-29.5, Hawaii
Revised Statutes, was enacted in 2022 to mandate the Department of
Health to establish and operate a toxicology laboratory designed
to test for diseases as well as air and water quality issues, no
such laboratory has yet been funded or constructed. Following the
November 2021 Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility release of fuel
and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances containing aqueous film
forming foam, the Department of Health’s laboratory lacked the
capability to evaluate the presence of toxins in water, so the
State had to send samples to the continental United States and
wait nearly one month for a determination of the toxicity level of
exposure of nearly one hundred thousand individuals. Your
Committee further finds that a local facility that can test for
diseases and air and water quality issues and provide the public
with timely analyses of environmental toxins would significantly
aid in preventing contamination of the water supply and mitigating
threats to Hawaii’s environment and public health.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Changing its title accordingly;
(2) Clarifying the lack of adequate testing laboratory
facilities in the State that can expeditiously identify
diseases and toxins; and
(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the
purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your
Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 131,
S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form
attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 131, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.
2024—2857 SCR131 HD1 HSCR HMSO
 STAND. CON. REP. NO. -24
Page 3
Respectfully submitted on
behalf of the members of the
Committee on Water & Land,
LI] Lair
2024—2857 SCR131 HD1 HSCR HMSO
 State of Hawaii
House of Representatives .4-j5c(Z. I ~t ~i.( —..2~.(
The Thirty-second Legislature
Record of Votes of the Committee on Water & Land
Bill/Resolution No.: Committee Referral: Date:
(1ck~i (IDI
0 The committee is reconsidering its previous decision on the measure.
The recommendation is to: ~ Pass, unamended (as is) Pass, with amendments (HD) C Hold
C Pass short form bill with HD to recommit for future public hearing (recommit)
WAL Members Ayes Ayes (WR) Nays Excused
1. ICHIYAMA, Linda (C)
2. POEPOE, Mahina (VC)
3. CHUN, Cory M.
4. GANADEN, Sonny
5. HASFIEM, Mark J.
6. MIZUNO, May Besarlo
7. MORIKAWA, Dee
8. TAKAYAMA, Gregg
9. SOUZA, Kanani
TOTAL (9)
The recommendation is: Adopted LI Not Adopted
joint referral, ______________________ did not support recommendation.
committee acronym(s)
/
Distribution: Original (White) — Committee Duplicate (Yellow) — Chief Clerk’s Office Duplicate (Pink) — HMSO