Hawaii-2014-HCR231-Introduced

WHEREAS, water is a natural resource that is essential for public health, growing crops, and preserving Hawaii's environmental resources and way of life; and

WHEREAS, population increase and urban development in Hawaii have resulted in a serious imbalance between water use and available water resources; and

WHEREAS, ensuring that adequate water resources are available to support Hawaii's natural beauty, a healthy environment, and urban growth for the benefit of present and future generations is of serious concern to the State; and

WHEREAS, Article XI, section 1 of the Hawaii Constitution provides that, along with other natural resources, water is a public trust resource to be managed and regulated for the benefit of the people; and

WHEREAS, in 1987, the Legislature enacted the State Water Code, codified as chapter 174C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to provide guidance and direction for managing and safeguarding Hawaii's water resources; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2014, the Senate concurring, that the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources is requested to convene a task force to examine current water issues in regards to the State, each county, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and private water systems; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following parties or their designees are requested to serve as members of the task force:

(1) The Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, who is requested to serve as the chairperson of the task force;

(2) The Director of Health;

(3) The Director of the Water Resources Research Center of the University of Hawaii;

(4) The Chairpersons of the Boards of Water Supply for the City and County of Honolulu, County of Kauai, and County of Maui, and the Manager of Department of Water Supply of the County of Hawaii;

(5) The Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission;

(6) The Chief Executive Officer of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; and

(7) Any other public or private entity deemed necessary by the chairperson of the task force; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to consider issues relating to:

(1) Potable water;

(2) Irrigation systems;

(3) Water conservation;

(4) Wastewater treatment;

(5) Water reclamation and reuse;

(6) Water quality;

(7) Infrastructure requirements;

(8) Traditional and customary Hawaiian rights; and

(9) Any other issue deemed relevant by the task force; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to examine current water issues and identify practical policy solutions for each island; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to report its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to each member of the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2015; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources; the Director of Health; the Director of the Water Resources Research Center of the University of Hawaii; Chairpersons of the Boards of Water Supply for the City and County of Honolulu, County of Kauai, and County of Maui; the Manager of the Department of Water Supply of the County of Hawaii; the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission; and the Chief Executive Officer of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

DLNR; Water; Task Force

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	231
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014
STATE OF HAWAII