STAND. COM. REP. NO.  556-20

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2020

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2579

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2579 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to require minimum hazard threshold levels, including any environmental cleanup levels, set by the Department of Health to be peer reviewed and approved by an independent technical advisory committee.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Board of Water Supply of the City and County of Honolulu, Progressive Democrats of Hawaii, Human Environmental Impacts Committee of the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party, Our Revolution Hawaii, and six individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Health and three individuals.

 

     Your Committees find that Environmental Action Levels (EAL) are primarily used to identify the presence of contaminated soil and groundwater that may require management and cleanup.  Clear, consistent, and transparent guidance for development and consultation to establish minimum hazard thresholds are essential to protect human health and Hawaii's environment.  Your Committees further find that credentialed experts should be included in the process to evaluate and affirm EALs set by the Department of Health, and notice should be provided to affected agencies.

 

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Removing the peer review requirement for minimum hazard thresholds developed by the Department of Health but retaining an independent technical advisory committee's approval;

 

     (2)  Requiring that the Department of Health provide notice of proposed changes or variances in EALs to the county boards or departments of water supply and other affected agencies;

 

     (3)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2579, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2579, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Health,

 

 

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair

 

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair