Report Title:

Ocean Resources; Commercial Activities; DLNR

 

Description:

Adds regulatory function over commercially permitted use of government and private boating facilities and commercial activities in private marinas.  (SB2196 HD1)

 


THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2196

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008

S.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES ON OCEAN WATERS.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to authorize the department of land and natural resources to regulate those commercial enterprises that operate out of private marinas.

     It is not the intent of this Act to provide for additional regulation of existing regulated commercial enterprises but to address only currently unregulated activities.

     SECTION 2.  Section 200-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§200-3[]]  Ocean recreation and coastal areas programs.  The board shall assume the following functions of the department of transportation:

     (1)  Managing and administering the ocean-based recreation and coastal areas programs of the State;

     (2)  Planning, developing, operating, administering, and maintaining small boat harbors, launching ramps, and other boating facilities and associated aids to navigation throughout the [State;] state;

     (3)  Developing and administering an ocean recreation management plan;

     (4)  Administering and operating a vessel registration system for the State;

     (5)  Regulating the [commercial] commercially permitted use of both governmental and private boating facilities; provided that no new permit shall be required for, or new regulation shall apply to, activities permitted or regulated under any other chapter;

     (6)  Regulating boat regattas and other ocean water events;

     (7)  Administering a marine casualty and investigation program;

     (8)  Assisting in abating air, water, and noise pollution;

     (9)  Conducting public education in boating safety;

    (10)  Administering the boating special fund;

    (11)  Assisting in controlling shoreline erosion;

    (12)  Repairing seawalls and other existing coastal protective structures under the jurisdiction of the State; and

    (13)  Removing nonnatural obstructions and public safety hazards from the shoreline, navigable streams, harbors, channels, and coastal areas of the [State.] state."

     SECTION 3.  Section 200-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  The chairperson may adopt rules necessary:

     (1)  To regulate the manner in which all vessels may enter the ocean waters and navigable streams of the [State] state and moor, anchor, or dock at small boat harbors, launching ramps, and other boating facilities owned or controlled by the State;

     (2)  To regulate the embarking and disembarking of passengers at small boat harbors, launching ramps, other boating facilities, and public beaches;

     (3)  For the safety of small boat harbors, launching ramps, and other boating facilities, the vessels anchored or moored therein;

     (4)  For the conduct of the public using small boat harbors, launching ramps, and other boating facilities owned or controlled by the State;

     (5)  To regulate and control recreational and commercial use of small boat harbors, launching ramps, and other boating facilities owned or controlled by the State and the ocean waters and navigable streams of the [State;] state;

     (6)  To prevent the discharge or throwing into small boat harbors, launching ramps, other boating facilities, ocean waters, and navigable streams, of rubbish, refuse, garbage, or other substances likely to affect the quality of the water or that contribute to making the small boat harbors, launching ramps, other boating facilities, ocean waters, and streams unsightly, unhealthful, or unclean, or that are liable to fill up, shoal, or shallow the waters in, near, or affecting small boat harbors, launching ramps, and other boating facilities and the ocean waters and navigable streams of the [State,] state, and likewise to prevent the escape of fuel or other oils or substances into the waters in, near, or affecting small boat harbors, launching ramps, or other boating facilities and the ocean waters and navigable streams of the [State] state from any source point, including[,] but not limited to[,] any vessel or from pipes or storage tanks upon land.  The rules may include:

         (A)  Requirements for permits and fees for:

              (i)  The mooring, docking, or anchoring of recreational and commercial vessels or the launching of recreational or commercial vessels at small boat harbors, launching ramps, and other boating facilities; or

             (ii)  Other uses of these facilities;

         (B)  Requirements for permits and fees for use of a vessel as a principal place of habitation while moored at a state small boat harbor;

         (C)  Requirements governing:

              (i)  The transfer of any state commercial, mooring, launching, or any other type of use or other permit, directly or indirectly, including[,] but not limited to[,] the imposition or assessment of a business transfer fee upon transfer of ownership of vessels operating commercially from, within or in any way related to the state small boat harbors; and

             (ii)  The use of state small boat harbors, launching ramps, or other boating facilities belonging to or controlled by the State, including[,] but not limited to[,] the establishment of minimum amounts of annual gross receipts required to renew a commercial use permit, and conditions under which a state commercial, mooring, launching, or any other type of use or other permit may be terminated, canceled, or forfeited; [and]

              and

         (D)  Any other rule necessary to implement this chapter pertaining to small boat harbors, launching ramps, and other boating facilities belonging to or controlled by the State;

     (7)  To continue the ocean recreational and coastal areas programs and govern the ocean waters and navigable streams of the [State,] state, and beaches encumbered with easements in favor of the public to protect and foster public peace and tranquility and to promote public safety, health, and welfare in or on the ocean waters and navigable streams of the [State,] state, and on beaches encumbered with easements in favor of the public.  The rules may include:

         (A)  Regulating the anchoring and mooring of vessels, houseboats, and other contrivances outside of any harbor or boating facility, including:

              (i)  The designation of offshore mooring areas;

             (ii)  The licensing and registration of vessels, houseboats, and other contrivances; and the issuance of permits for offshore anchoring and mooring of vessels, houseboats, and other contrivances; and

            (iii)  The living aboard on such vessels, houseboats, or other contrivances while they are anchored or moored within ocean waters or navigable streams of the [State.] state.

              The rules shall provide for consideration of environmental impacts on the [State's] state's aquatic resources in the issuance of any permits for offshore mooring;

         (B)  Safety measures, requirements, and practices in or on the ocean waters and navigable streams of the [State;] state;

         (C)  The licensing and registration of persons or organizations engaged in commercial activities in or on the ocean waters and navigable streams of the [State;] state;

         (D)  The licensing and registration of equipment [utilized] used for commercial activities in or on the ocean waters and navigable streams of the [State;] state;

         (E)  For beaches encumbered with easements in favor of the public, the prohibition or denial of the following uses and activities:

              (i)  Commercial activities;

             (ii)  The storage, parking, and display of any personal property;

            (iii)  The placement of structures or obstructions;

             (iv)  The beaching, landing, mooring, or anchoring of any vessels; and

              (v)  Other uses or activities that may interfere with the public use and enjoyment of these beaches; [and]

              and

         (F)  Any other matter relating to the safety, health, and welfare of the general public; [and]

     (8)  To regulate the examination, guidance, and control of harbor agents and their assistants[.]; and

     (9)  To regulate commercial activities in private marinas; provided that no new permit shall be required for those commercial activities in private marinas regulated by any other chapter.  For the purpose of this paragraph, "commercial activity" shall have the same meaning as in section 188-40.6."

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2030.