STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1734

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 442, 443, 444, 468, 469

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 442, 443, 444, 468, and 469, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Advisory Committee on Pesticides

 

G.M. No. 442

JANET CLAIRE ASHMAN,

for a term to expire 6-30-2011;

 

G.M. No. 443

BARBARA ANN BROOKS, Ph.D.,

for a term to expire 6-30-2011;

 

G.M. No. 444

CYNTHIA K.L. REZENTES,

for a term to expire 6-30-2011;

 

G.M. No. 468

QING X. LI, Ph.D.,

for a term to expire 6-30-2011; and

 

G.M. No. 469

REBECCA CAROL TAYLOR,

for a term to expire 6-30-2011.

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees, and finds Janet Claire Ashman, Barbara Ann Brooks, Ph.D., Cynthia K.L. Rezentes, Qing X. Li, Ph.D., and Rebecca Carol Taylor to have the necessary qualifications to be nominated to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides.

 

     Testimony in support of Janet Claire Ashman's nomination was submitted by the Department of Agriculture; the Agribusiness Development Corporation; the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; the Maui County Farm Bureau; the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center; Alexander and Baldwin, Inc.; Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company; Kauai Coffee Company, Inc.; Gay and Robinson, Inc.; and one individual.

 

     Ms. Ashman received her Bachelor of Arts in Zoology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and her Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  She is currently an Environmental Specialist for the Hawaii Agricultural Research Center where she is responsible for coordinating and presenting agricultural industry responses to environmental regulatory and legislative proposals.  Nominated for her second term and representing the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Ms. Ashman contributes to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides extensive experience in governmental relations and environmental regulation.  She actively participates in discussions of which she is aware of the potential impact of environmental laws and rules, and considers implementation issues during these discussions.  Ms. Ashman's demonstrated commitment and extensive experience, education, and intellect to understand the wide range of issues makes her an invaluable asset to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides.

 

     Testimony in support of Barbara Ann Brooks, Ph.D.'s nomination was submitted by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health.

 

     Dr. Brooks received her Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Science from the University of Arizona, and her Master in Science in Food Science and her Doctorate in Toxicology from Cornell University.  She is currently a State Toxicologist with the Department of Health and the Supervisor of the Hazard Evaluation Section of the Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Office.  She has over fifteen years of experience as an environmental toxicologist, specializing in human health risk assessments.  Dr. Brooks' current focus with the Department of Health is to enhance the environmental public health tracking of diseases related to environmental exposures.  She is also a member of the Western Tracking Biomonitoring Collaborative whose goal is to build capacity at the state level to assess the nature and extent of exposure to hazardous substances.  Nominated for her second term and representing the Department of Health, Dr. Brooks contributes to the Advisory Committee an extensive risk assessment background that is important to understand health risks of pesticides and how pesticides should be regulated.  Her demonstrated commitment and extensive experience, education, and intellect to understand the wide range of issues makes Dr. Brooks an invaluable asset to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides.

 

     Testimony in support of Cynthia K.L. Rezentes' nomination was submitted by the Department of Agriculture and the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center.

 

     Ms. Rezentes is a graduate of Waianae High School, received her Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Gonzaga University, and her Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Mexico.  She is currently the Chairperson of Ka Papa O Kakuhihewa Council, which receives and manages funds donated by the Hawaiian Electric Company to the Waianae, Makakilo, and Kapolei regions for grants to promote resources conservation through education and hands-on efforts.  She is also the Secretary of Mohala I Ka Wai, which is a volunteer organization that works with the Board of Water Supply to investigate the effects of reducing groundwater pumping on surface water flow in Makaha Stream, and is a Director of the Oahu Resource and Development Council, Inc., which is a nonprofit organization established to provide assistance to local organizations for capacity building, and to do projects within the community that will promote agriculture, the environment, and social and cultural initiatives.  Nominated for her second term and representing environmental organizations, Ms. Rezentes contributes to the Advisory Committee an extensive background in environmental community efforts, is able to work well with people on difficult and complex issues, and provides a balanced, well-reasoned, and valuable perspective.  Her demonstrated commitment and leadership in numerous environmental stewardship projects makes Ms. Rezentes an invaluable asset to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides.

 

     Testimony in support of Qing X. Li, Ph.D.'s nomination was submitted by the Department of Agriculture, the Dean of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at the University of Hawaii, and one individual.

 

     Dr. Li received his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the Shandong Agricultural University in Shandong, China and received his Doctorate in Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry from the University of California at Davis.  He is currently a Professor with the Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering and a Director of the Pesticide Residue Research Laboratory at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  As the representative of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources on the Advisory Committee, Dr. Li will bring to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides his far-ranging expertise in the areas of environmental chemistry and pesticide regulation.  As part of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Interregional Research Project No. 4 program team, he directs research to evaluate pesticide residue levels on crop tissues so that safe tolerance levels can be established and new pesticides can be registered with the United States Environmental Protection Agency for use by growers in Hawaii.  Dr. Li's strong scientific background, ability to identify the risks and benefits of pesticides, and ability to suggest innovative ways to use and regulate pesticides will be invaluable assets for the Advisory Committee on Pesticides.

 

     Testimony in support of Rebecca Carol Taylor's nomination was submitted by the Department of Agriculture and one individual.

 

     Ms. Taylor received her Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from the University of Arkansas and received her Master in Business Administration from Hawaii Pacific University, where she was a member of the Delta Mu Delta Business Honor Society.  She is currently a Realtor Associate with Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties in Honolulu where she concentrates on residential real estate sales and marketing.  As a realtor, she is familiar with the problems affecting structural fumigation, which is one of the major uses of hazardous pesticides in Hawaii.  Furthermore, Ms. Taylor has twenty-five years of experience as a planning specialist, assisting agencies in developing data management systems in Arkansas.  One of her clients was the Arkansas Plant Board, which is the counterpart to the Plant Industry Division of the Department of Agriculture.  As a result, she has an understanding of state programs that monitor plant crops.  As the citizen's group representative on the Advisory Committee, Ms. Taylor will bring to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides her wealth of knowledge and expertise in the areas of governmental relations and residential pesticide uses.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs,

 

 

 

____________________________

RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Chair