STAND. COM. REP. 1380

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 843

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 843, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONSERVATION OF AQUATIC LIFE, WILDLIFE, AND LAND PLANTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to further Hawaii's commitment to protect endangered species by, among other things:

(1) Requiring legislative approval before the Board of Land and Natural Resources can enter into an HCP or SHA rejected by the Endangered Species Recovery Committee;

(2) Making explicit the authority of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to revoke an HCP or SHA permit to forestall an appreciable reduction in an endangered or threatened species' likely survival and recovery;

(3) Authorizing citizen suits against state and county agencies for violations of HCPs and SHAs; and

(4) Authorizing the incidental taking of endangered species on public land under SHAs that are effective for a minimum of 15, rather than 5 years.

DLNR, Department of Transportation, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter, Hawaii Audubon Society, and numerous concerned citizens testified in support of this measure. The University of Hawaii-West Oahu, Estate of James Campbell, and Earthjustice supported the intent of this measure. The Hawaii Forest Industry Association and Environmental Defense testified in opposition to this measure. The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii commented on this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 843, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

 

____________________________

DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair