STAND. COM. REP. NO.
Honolulu, Hawaii
2023
MAR30 S
RE: H.C.R. No. 24
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2023
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which
was referred H.C.R. No. 24 entitled:
“HOUSE 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 of this measure is to urge the Department of Land
and Natural Resources to prohibit mining of the seabed within
Hawaii state waters.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory, Ocean Tourism
Coalition, Hawai’i Reef and Ocean Coalition, Climate Protectors
Hawai’i, and two individuals.
Your Committee finds that the ocean is of significant
economic, environmental, and cultural importance to the State.
Your Committee further finds that seabed mining could negatively
impact the State’s marine waters and ecosystems. This measure
would ensure that the State takes a precautionary approach to the
potential harms of seabed mining.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to
2023-2958 HCR24 HSCR HMSO
 STAND. CON. REP. NO.
Page 2
this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of
H.C.R. No. 24 and recommends its adoption.
Respectfully submitted on
behalf of the members of the
Committee on Energy &
Environmental Protection,
NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair
2023-2958 HCR24 HSCR HMSO
 State of Hawaii
House of Representatives
The Thirty-second Legislature
1~SC R.. I 1 c:.c~.
Record of Votes of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection
Bill/Resolution No.: Committee Referral: Date:
kc-R 2~J EEP 03/2g/23
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)
EEP Members Ayes Ayes (WR) Nays Excused
1. LOWEN, Nicole E. (C) 7
2. COCHRAN, Elle (VC) 7
3. GATES, Cedric Asuega
4. KAHALOA, Kirstin
5. PERRUSO, Amy A. 7
6. WOODSON, Justin H.
7. WARD, Gene
TOTAL (7) “-i 3
The recommendation is: RI Adopted ~ Not Adopted
If joint referral, did not support recommendation.
committee acronym(s)
Vice Chair’s or designee’s ~
Distribution: Original (White) — Committee Duplicate (Yellow) — Chief Clerks Office Duplicate (Pink) — 1-IMSO