Hawaii 2022 Regular Session

Hawaii House Bill HB99 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B. NO. 99 THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to the clean water act. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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3	3	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B. NO. 99
4	4	THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021
5	5	STATE OF HAWAII
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7	7	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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9	9	H.B. NO.
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13	13	THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021
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17	17	STATE OF HAWAII
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31	31	A BILL FOR AN ACT
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37	37	relating to the clean water act.
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43	43	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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47	47	SECTION 1. The legislature finds that in County of Maui, Hawaii v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund, 140 S.Ct. 1462 (2020), the United States Supreme Court held that the Clean Water Act requires a permit when there is a discharge from a point source directly into navigable waters or when there is the functional equivalent of a direct discharge, such as with a wastewater plant's injection well. This case recognized the ways wastewater discharge via injection wells ultimately impacts the near-shore environment, including coastal ecology, coral reefs, human health, and recreation. The legislature further finds that it is in the public interest to recognize the downstream impacts of all injection wells statewide. Wastewater should be treated thoroughly, disposed of properly, and treated or re-used, in order to protect our scarce water resources and coastal environment. The purpose of this Act is to require that all injection wells in the State have a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit within ten years and prohibit underground injection without a permit after this date. SECTION 2. Section 340E-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (e) to read as follows: "(e) The director shall promulgate regulations establishing an underground injection control program. Such program shall prohibit any underground injection which is not authorized by a permit issued by the director; provided that the director shall not issue permits for the construction of sewage wastewater injection wells unless alternative wastewater disposal options are not available, feasible, or practical; provided further that the director may authorize underground injection by regulation. Underground injection authorized by regulation shall not endanger drinking water sources. Beginning January 1, 2031, underground injection shall be prohibited unless authorized by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit obtained from the director. Any underground injection control program shall: (1) Set standards and prohibitions controlling any underground injection if such injection may result in the presence of any contaminant in underground water which supplies or may be expected to supply any public water system, and if the presence of such contaminant may result in such system's not complying with any national primary drinking water regulation or may otherwise adversely affect the health of persons; (2) Require, in the case of a program which authorizes underground injection by permit, that the applicant for the permit satisfy the director that the underground injection will meet the requirements of paragraph (1); and (3) Include inspection, monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements. For purposes of this subsection: "Injection well" means a bored, drilled, or driven shaft, or a dug hole, whose depth is greater than its widest surface dimension and into which subsurface disposal of fluid or fluids occurs or is meant to occur by means of injection. "Sewage wastewater" means any liquid wastewater that includes sewage from humans or household operations, regardless of whether the wastewater has been treated or whether the wastewater pollutes or tends to pollute state waters." SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________
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49	49	SECTION 1. The legislature finds that in County of Maui, Hawaii v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund, 140 S.Ct. 1462 (2020), the United States Supreme Court held that the Clean Water Act requires a permit when there is a discharge from a point source directly into navigable waters or when there is the functional equivalent of a direct discharge, such as with a wastewater plant's injection well. This case recognized the ways wastewater discharge via injection wells ultimately impacts the near-shore environment, including coastal ecology, coral reefs, human health, and recreation.
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51	51	The legislature further finds that it is in the public interest to recognize the downstream impacts of all injection wells statewide. Wastewater should be treated thoroughly, disposed of properly, and treated or re-used, in order to protect our scarce water resources and coastal environment.
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53	53	The purpose of this Act is to require that all injection wells in the State have a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit within ten years and prohibit underground injection without a permit after this date.
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55	55	SECTION 2. Section 340E-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (e) to read as follows:
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57	57	"(e) The director shall promulgate regulations establishing an underground injection control program. Such program shall prohibit any underground injection which is not authorized by a permit issued by the director; provided that the director shall not issue permits for the construction of sewage wastewater injection wells unless alternative wastewater disposal options are not available, feasible, or practical; provided further that the director may authorize underground injection by regulation. Underground injection authorized by regulation shall not endanger drinking water sources. Beginning January 1, 2031, underground injection shall be prohibited unless authorized by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit obtained from the director. Any underground injection control program shall:
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59	59	(1) Set standards and prohibitions controlling any underground injection if such injection may result in the presence of any contaminant in underground water which supplies or may be expected to supply any public water system, and if the presence of such contaminant may result in such system's not complying with any national primary drinking water regulation or may otherwise adversely affect the health of persons;
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61	61	(2) Require, in the case of a program which authorizes underground injection by permit, that the applicant for the permit satisfy the director that the underground injection will meet the requirements of paragraph (1); and
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63	63	(3) Include inspection, monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements.
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65	65	For purposes of this subsection:
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67	67	"Injection well" means a bored, drilled, or driven shaft, or a dug hole, whose depth is greater than its widest surface dimension and into which subsurface disposal of fluid or fluids occurs or is meant to occur by means of injection.
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69	69	"Sewage wastewater" means any liquid wastewater that includes sewage from humans or household operations, regardless of whether the wastewater has been treated or whether the wastewater pollutes or tends to pollute state waters."
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71	71	SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.
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73	73	SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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77	77	INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________
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79	79	INTRODUCED BY:
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81	81	_____________________________
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87	87	Report Title: Department of Health; Clean Water Act; Underground Injection; National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Description: Beginning 1/1/2031, prohibits underground injection unless authorized by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit obtained from the director of health. The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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93	93	Report Title:
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95	95	Department of Health; Clean Water Act; Underground Injection; National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit
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99	99	Description:
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101	101	Beginning 1/1/2031, prohibits underground injection unless authorized by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit obtained from the director of health.
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109	109	The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.