Bill Text: HI SCR174 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requesting The Department Of Land And Natural Resources To Assist The Office Of Hawaiian Affairs In Providing An Easement To The Agribusiness Development Corporation For Water Irrigation Infrastructure.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2017-04-11 - Re-referred to OMH, FIN, referral sheet 42 [SCR174 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2017-SCR174-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.C.R. NO. |
174 |
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TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
requesting the department of land and natural resources to assist the office of hawaiian affairs in providing an easement to the agribusiness development corporation for water irrigation infrastructure.
WHEREAS, Hawaii's agricultural production is insufficient to meet the State's food consumption needs, resulting in an over-reliance on imported food that creates critical health, safety, and security issues for Hawaii; the State's sustainable future; and preparedness in the event of future disaster, emergency, or crisis; and
WHEREAS, it is the State's responsibility under article XI, section 3, of the Hawaii State Constitution to conserve and protect agricultural lands, promote diversified agriculture, increase agricultural self-sufficiency, and assure the availability of agriculturally suitable lands; and
WHEREAS, it is the State's responsibility under article XI, section 7, of the Hawaii State Constitution to protect, control and regulate the use of Hawaii's water resources for the benefit of the people of Hawaii; and
WHEREAS, over the past few years, the State has made it a priority to shift toward sustainability in agriculture and decreasing food imports; and
WHEREAS, Act 55, Session Laws of Hawaii 2013, amended the Hawaii State Planning Act to create a new state policy to promote economically competitive activities that increase Hawaii's agricultural self-sufficiency, including the increased purchase and use of Hawaii-grown food and food products by residents, businesses, and governmental bodies; and
WHEREAS, on September 1, 2016, the Governor pledged a commitment for Hawaii to double its food production by 2020, and has prioritized making more land available for agriculture as a way to accomplish that objective; and
WHEREAS, large tracts of agricultural land, including those formerly used for pineapple and sugar cane, are now fallow; and
WHEREAS, these lands provide a unique opportunity for the State to fulfill the intent of the Hawaii State Constitution regarding diversified agriculture and agricultural self-sufficiency through acquisition of suitable agricultural land for long-term leases for diversified, bona fide agricultural operations to increase agricultural production; and
WHEREAS, the State is working with the local agriculture industry to provide farmers the infrastructure and resources, such as land and water, to increase agricultural activity on fallow lands; and
WHEREAS, Act 122, Session Laws of Hawaii 2014, appropriated $2,500,000 for the plan and design for a new wastewater reclaimed water irrigation system at the Wahiawa Wastewater Treatment Plant; and
WHEREAS, rules and recycled water guidelines adopted by the Department of Health allow, as suitable uses of recycled water, the irrigation of food crops where recycled water contacts the edible portion of the crop, including all root crops; and
WHEREAS, the State has acquired over 1,900 acres of agricultural land in the Central Oahu and North Shore area which require irrigation for food production; and
WHEREAS, the State has a plan to use the 1,000,000 gallons of R1 water from the Wahiawa Wastewater Treatment Plant for food crops; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2017, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to assist the Office of Hawaiian Affairs in providing an easement to the Agribusiness Development Corporation for water irrigation infrastructure on property owned by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, TMK No. 71001045, 71001046, and 71001050; 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, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Executive Director of the Agribusiness Development Corporation.
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OFFERED BY: |
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Agricultural Land; Water Irrigation Infrastructure; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Agribusiness Development Corporation
