STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2637

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     S.B. No. 2548

        S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2548 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MARINE DEBRIS,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation to create and implement a marine debris recycling pilot project.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Sustainable Swim, Water Inspired Conservation Group, and seven individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawaii and one individual.

 

     Your Committees find that marine debris, such as derelict fishing gear including nets, lines, and ropes, is often discarded into the ocean either with intent or negligence.  This debris is a pollutant to the environment and efforts to dispose of it properly should be a priority.  Your Committees further find that the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation should partner with owners, lessees, crews, or other occupants of vessels, to establish a program in which crews aboard those vessels would gather marine debris and transfer it to a marine debris collection center.

 

     Your Committees also find that this measure is an appropriate vehicle in which to insert an appropriation to the University of Hawaii Water Resources Research Center to research and develop specialized equipment for effectively and efficiently removing plastic marine debris, as intended in S.B. No. 3125, Regular Session of 2020.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Replacing the term "marine debris recycling center" with "marine debris collection center";

 

     (2)  Inserting an appropriation of $200,000 for FY 2020-2021 for the University of Hawaii Water Resources Research Center to research and develop specialized equipment for effectively and efficiently removing plastic marine debris from beaches and shorelines and allowing them to contract with other entities as needed; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2548, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2548, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land,

 

________________________________

KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair

 

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair