STAND. COM. REP. NO.
Honolulu, Hawaii
APR 0 3 2024
RE: S.R. No. 198
S. D. 1
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2024
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committees on Health and Human Services and Agriculture
and Environment, to which was referred S.R. No. 198 entitled:
"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO
CARRY OUT WIDESPREAD SOIL TESTING IN LAHAINA AND TO DEVELOP A
SOIL REMEDIATION PLAN,"
beg leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the
Department of Health to carry out widespread soil testing in
Lahaina and to develop a soil remediation plan.
Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure
from the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i
and one individual.
Your Committees find that the August 2023 Maui wildfire was
the fifth deadliest wildfire in United States history, with more
than two thousand two hundred structures damaged or destroyed.
Your Committees further find that high-intensity wildfires such as
the wildfire experienced in Lahaina, cause physical, chemical, and
biological changes to the surrounding soil. Your Committees
additionally find that burned or melted building materials,
furniture, plastics, and consumer electronics produce toxic
substances that can also contaminate soil, which may threaten
human health, groundwater quality, ocean ecosystems, and food
production. This measure supports the public and environmental
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 STAND. COM. REP. NO.
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health of the Lahaina community by identifying potential risks of
soil contamination following the August 2023 Maui wildfire.
Your Committees note that the Department of Health has
recently executed the Comprehensive Environmental Monitoring and
Sampling Plan contract for a consultant to review environmental
data collected by other federal and state agencies, conduct data
management, and design a data portal, and that the Department of
Health has requested reimbursement from the Federal Emergency
Management Agency for this soil testing contract. However, your
Committees further note the concerns raised in the Department of
Health's testimony that it does not have the personnel or
resources to a develop a comprehensive soil remediation plan.
Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:
(1) Inserting language to request the Department of Health
to seek funding for the development of a comprehensive
soil remediation plan; and
(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the
purposes of clarity and consistency.
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your
Committees on Health and Human Services and Agriculture and
Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees
concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 198, as amended
herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as
S.R. No. 198, S.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on
behalf of the members of the
Committees on Health and Human
Services and Agriculture and
Environment,
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 The Senate
Thirty-Second Legislature
State of Hawaii
Record of Votes
Committee on Health and Human Services
HHS
Bill / Resolution No.:* Committee Referral: Date:
SIR 18*5 WVrS.
__ The Committee is reconsidering its previous decision on this measure.
If so, then the previous decision was to: ___________________________________
The Recommendation is:
Pass, unamended ✓^Pass, with amendments __ Hold __ Recommit
2312 2311 2310 2313
Members Aye Aye (WR) Nay Excused
SAN BUENAVENTURA, Joy A. (C)
AQUINO, Henry J.C. (VC)
KEOHOKALOLE, Jarrett
SHIMABUKURO. Maile S.L
AWA, Brenton
TOTAL
Recommendation:
[jJ'-^opted __ Not Adopted
Chair’s or Designee’s Signature:_„.^------- —)
—
Distribution; Original Yellow Pink Goldenrod
File with Committee Report Clerk's Office Drafting Agency Committee File Copy
*Only one measure per Record of Votes
Revised: 12/27/23
 The Senate
Thirty-Second Legislature
State of Hawai‘i
Record of Votes
Committee on Agriculture and Environment
AEN
Bill / Resolution No.:* Committee Referral:
/ Aeis)
__ The Committee is reconsidering its previous decision on this measure.
If so, then the previous decision was to:___________________________________
The Recommendation is:
__ Pass, unamended X Pass, \A/ith amendments __ Hold __ Recommit
2312 2311_______________ 2310________ 2313
Members Aye Aye (WR) Nay Excused
GABBARD, Mike (C)
RICHARDS, III, Herbert M. “Tim” (VC)
DECOITE, Lynn
RHOADS, Karl
AWA, Brenton
TOTAL
Recommendation: ,
Adopted __ Not Adopted
Chair’s or Designee’s Signature: \ 1 n i
Distribution: Original Yellow Pink Goldenrod
File with Committee Report Clerk's Office Drafting Agency Committee File Copy
*Only one measure per Record of Votes
Revised: 12/27/23