Requesting The Governor To Certify Good Standing For All Lessees Of State Public Lands And Prohibit The State From Leasing Or Renewing The Lease Of Any Public Lands To Any Individual, Corporation, Or Public Agency That Has Not Met All Financial, Contractual, And Legal Obligations.
If enacted, HR169 would establish a more stringent oversight mechanism over state public land leases, particularly affecting entities that have failed to meet their obligations. This resolution directly addresses issues surrounding the United States Department of Defense, which has reportedly not fulfilled its financial responsibilities despite controlling a significant portion of the public lands in Hawaii. Additionally, there are implications for environmental responsibilities, as the resolution insists that lessees must carry out necessary maintenance and remediation efforts required by law.
House Resolution 169, presented in the Thirty-first Legislature of Hawaii, seeks to ensure that all lessees of state public lands are in good standing. This resolution requests that the Governor certify the status of these lessees and prohibits the state from leasing or renewing leases to any individual, corporation, or public agency that fails to meet their financial, contractual, and legal obligations. The intent of this resolution is to hold lessees accountable and ensure compliance with all relevant obligations, particularly in light of concerning instances involving notable entities such as the Department of Defense and Monsanto Company.
The resolution highlights several notable points of contention, primarily focused on the actions and obligations of major lessees like the United States Navy and Monsanto. There are concerns that some entities have engaged in practices that violate environmental standards and legal obligations, such as the reported failure of the Navy to conduct necessary environmental maintenance and the history of criminal activity linked to Monsanto. The resolution poses a challenge, questioning why entities engaged in serious noncompliance continue to hold leases, thereby prompting discussions about accountability and enforcement of state land-use policies.