HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

159

THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

STRONGLY URGING THE Department of land and natural resources to WORK WITH the International Dialogue on Underwater Munitions' International Scientific and Technology Advisory Board on Underwater Munitions TO SEEK and SECURE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR the NON-DESTRUCTIVE DISPOSAL OF THOUSANDS OF TONS OF UNDERWATER MUNITIONS DUMPED, LOST, OR ABANDONED IN HAWAIIAN WATERS.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, international scientific findings suggest an urgent need for awareness, research, and the non-destructive disposal of thousands of tons of underwater munitions dumped, lost, or abandoned in Hawaiian waters; and

 

     WHEREAS, lost or abandoned munitions at sea are commonly referred to as "underwater munitions", which includes conventional, chemical, radiological, and biological munitions, as well as their propellants, fuses, and booster and bursting explosives; and

 

     WHEREAS, there is cause for concern regarding chemical and conventional munitions present in the marine environment, whether as unexploded ordnance or discarded military munitions, because they pose a threat to the health and safety of humans as well as marine life; and

 

WHEREAS, through corrosion and chemical changes, these devices might become more volatile, thus increasing the danger of unexpected explosions; and

 

WHEREAS, underwater munitions are point source emitters of pollution, both as chronic contamination of the marine environment through leakages and sudden release of toxic substances through explosions; and

     WHEREAS, the Hawaiian Islands served as a staging area in both world wars and the Vietnam War, and vast quantities of unused munitions were dumped throughout the island chain; and

 

WHEREAS, the steel casements for these munitions are now undergoing rapid corrosion due to prolonged exposure to seawater, creating a special urgency to find, retrieve, and destroy these underwater munitions before their breakdown products continue to spread toxins across the sea floor; and

 

     WHEREAS, until the 1960s, sea dumping was believed to be one of the safest and most cost-effective ways to dispose of munitions; and

 

WHEREAS, however, in 1969, the United States National Academy of Sciences recommended the discontinuation of sea disposal of chemical warfare agents, and in 1972, the United States Congress enacted the Marine Protection Act, recognizing that "[u]nregulated dumping of material into ocean waters endangers human health, welfare, and amenities, and the marine environment, ecological system, and economic potentialities"; and

 

     WHEREAS, the coral reefs of Hawaii generate $835,000,000 in annual economic activity; create more than 8,000 full-time jobs; provide shoreline protection from storms and coastal erosion; and are the source of Hawaii's famous tourist beaches; and

 

     WHEREAS, it is difficult for any single organization to adequately address all aspects of underwater munitions; thus, a statewide effort is necessary to bring together stakeholders to cooperate, collect, process, coordinate, prioritize resources, and distribute information for underwater munitions policy, science, technology, and responses; and

 

     WHEREAS, there is a need for greater involvement and cooperation on underwater munitions policy, science, technology, and responses by state departments and agencies, non-governmental organizations, foundations, charities, local interest groups, marine operators, coral restoration groups, fisheries, beachgoers, stakeholders, and the general public; and

     WHEREAS, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, including its Division of Aquatic Resources, works to:

 

     (1)  Restore Hawaii's coral reefs;

 

     (2)  Conserve the State's coral reefs for present and future generations; and

 

     (3)  Create a resilient and sustainable future for Hawaiian coral reefs; and

 

WHEREAS, decaying underwater munitions should be removed from coral reefs when done safely or remediated with non-destructive disposal technologies to protect the corals and sea life and to prevent harmful algae blooms; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2021, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is strongly urged to work with the International Dialogue on Underwater Munitions' International Scientific and Technology Advisory Board on Underwater Munitions to seek and secure federal funding for the non-destructive disposal of thousands of tons of underwater munitions dumped, lost, or abandoned in Hawaiian waters; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, and Chairperson of the International Scientific and Technology Advisory Board on Underwater Munitions.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Underwater Munitions; Hawaiian Waters