STAND. COM. REP. NO. IS~~_24
Honolulu, Hawaii
APR01 , 2024
RE: H.C.R. No. 208
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 N.C.R.
No. 208 entitled:
“HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING HAWAII’S
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO URGE CONGRESS TO FUND
CONSTRUCTION OF A LABORATORY CERTIFIED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC ON
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS IN THE STATE,”
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to urge Hawaii’s Congressional
delegation to obtain federal funding for the construction of an
Environmental Protection Agency certified laboratory to test for
environmental toxins in the State and publish the results of its
analyses to the public.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Honolulu Board of Water Supply; Sierra Club of Hawai’i;
Democratic Party of Hawai’i; Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition;
Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai’i; Americans
for Democratic Action; and four individuals.
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 been funded or constructed. Following the
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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 did not have
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 people. 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.
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 H.C.R. No. 208
and recommends its adoption.
Respectfully submitted on
behalf of the members of the
Committee on Water & Land,
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 State of Hawaii
House of Representatives
The Thirty-second Legislature fr~ C,~ ic 1., 1~r”~ 2~f
Record of Votes of the Committee on Water & Land
Bill/Resolution No.: Committee Referral: Date:
HCR2-O%
0 The committee is reconsidering its previous decision on the measure.
The recommendation is to: ~“Pass, unamended (as is) C 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. HASHEM, Mark J.
6. MIZUNO, May Besarlo /
7. MORIKAWA, Dee
8. TAKAYAMA, Gregg /
9. SOUZA, Kanani
TOTAL (9) 0 0
The recommendation is: 4~Adopted ~ Not Adopted
If joint referral, did not support recommendation.
ommitte acr rn(s)
~-
Vice Chair’s or designee’s signature:
Distribution: Original (White) — Committee Duplicate (Yellow) — Chie Clerk’s Office Duplicate (Pink) — HMSO