Bill Text: HI SB386 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Wastewater Systems.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 12-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2023-12-11 - Carried over to 2024 Regular Session. [SB386 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2024-SB386-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
386 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to wastewater systems.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION
1. The legislature finds that cesspools are contaminating the
State's ground water, streams, drinking water, and coastal ecosystems. Maintaining the cleanliness of the State's
waters is a matter of statewide concern that falls under the
legislature's power to enact laws pursuant to article X, section 6, of the
Hawaii State Constitution. To address the State's cesspool
pollution, Act 125, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017, required all cesspools to be
upgraded or converted to a septic system or aerobic treatment unit system, or
connected to a sewerage system before January 1, 2050, and directed the department
of health to develop a system to prioritize their upgrade, conversion, or
connection based on their impact on public health. Additionally, Act 132, Session Laws of Hawaii
2018, established the cesspool conversion working group to develop a long-range,
comprehensive plan for conversion of cesspools statewide by 2050 and
commissioned a statewide study of sewage contamination in nearshore marine
areas to further supplement studies and reports conducted by the department of
health on cesspools. The cesspool
conversion working group's 2021 Hawaii cesspool hazard assessment and
prioritization tool report identified three prioritization categories: priority levels 1, 2, and 3. Priority level 1 includes areas in the State
where cesspools pose the greatest contamination hazard; priority level 2
includes areas where cesspools pose a significant contamination hazard; and
priority level 3 includes areas where cesspools have a pronounced contamination
hazard.
The legislature further finds that the following communities were labeled as priority level 1 areas by the 2021 Hawaii cesspool hazard assessment and prioritization tool report: Haleiwa, Waimanalo Beach-Homesteads, Hauula-Kaaawa, Makua Valley, Judd Hillside-Lowery Avenue, Waimea-Kahuku, Laie, Kawailoa, Campbell High School, Kaena Point, Kalaheo Avenue, Waianae Kai, and Nanakuli on Oahu; Halama, Kamaole, Kahoma, Keawakapu, Kapalua, Launiupoko, and Spreckelsville on Maui; Holualoa, Kailua, and Kawaihae-Waikoloa on Hawaii; and Haena—Hanalei, Kekaha-Waimea, and Wailua Homesteads on Kauai. In these areas where homes are not connected to waste management systems or are too remote to be connected to existing infrastructure, new waste management technologies and solutions are necessary to transition away from environmentally hazardous cesspools.
The Legislature also finds that on an annual basis, approximately one thousand individual wastewater system applications are processed and reviewed. There are approximately eighty-two thousand cesspools that will be required to be upgraded or converted to an approved wastewater system or connected to a sewer system by 2050 pursuant to Act 125, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017. It is projected that individual wastewater system applications may increase up to an additional three thousand to five thousand applications per year to meet this mandate.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds out of the water pollution control revolving fund for two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) positions within the department of health's wastewater branch.
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the water pollution control revolving fund the sum of:
(1) $56,304 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to fund one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) engineer position within the department of health's wastewater branch; and
(2) $52,044 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to fund one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) planner position within the department of health's wastewater branch.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health to support the processing of individual wastewater systems applications.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Wastewater Systems; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates funds for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) engineer position and one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) planner position within the Department of Health's Wastewater Branch to support processing of individual wastewater systems applications.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
