Hawaii 2022 Regular Session

Hawaii House Bill HR4 Compare Versions

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

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1	1	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.R. NO. 4 THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022 STATE OF HAWAII
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3	3	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.R. NO. 4
4	4	THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
5	5	STATE OF HAWAII
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7	7	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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9	9	H.R. NO.
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13	13	THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
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17	17	STATE OF HAWAII
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29	29	HOUSE RESOLUTION establishing the house special committee on red hill to address issues related to the red hill bulk fuel storage facility, water contamination and remediation, and all related impacts.
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31	31	HOUSE RESOLUTION
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37	37	establishing the house special committee on red hill to address issues related to the red hill bulk fuel storage facility, water contamination and remediation, and all related impacts.
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45	45	WHEREAS, the House of Representatives finds that the State of Hawaii faces an emergency that requires immediate and decisive action; and WHEREAS, on November 28, 2021, users of the Navy's Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam water system complained of a fuel odor coming from their water, as well as an oily sheen on their water; and WHEREAS, numerous residents reported their families and pets experienced health issues after consuming the water, including rashes, mouth sores, stomach aches, vomiting, burning eyes, sore throats, headaches, and nausea; and WHEREAS, on November 29, 2021, the Department of Health issued an advisory to all users on the Navy's water system to avoid using the tap water for drinking, cooking, or oral hygiene and also advised that users who detect a fuel odor from their water should avoid using the water for drinking, cooking, bathing, dishwashing, laundry, or oral hygiene; and WHEREAS, as a direct result of the water contamination, over three thousand residents were required to move out of their homes and several businesses were shut down or were forced to limit their operations; and WHEREAS, several Hawaii public schools and child development centers on the Navy water system were also impacted by the water contamination, forced to close off sinks and water fountains and use only bottled water for handwashing, dishwashing, and drinking purposes; and WHEREAS, the City and County of Honolulu Board of Water Supply, to protect its drinking water system, has shut down multiple water sources, including the Halawa Shaft, which supplies approximately twenty percent of water to urban Honolulu; and WHEREAS, the suspected source of the water contamination was from a November 20, 2021, release of approximately fourteen thousand gallons of a mixture of water and fuel from a crack in a fire suppression drain line at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility; and the United States Navy has identified JP-5, or jet fuel, in the Red Hill Shaft, one of the drinking water sources for the Navy water system; and WHEREAS, as of December 3, 2021, the Department of Health received nearly five hundred complaints, mostly from residents or customers served by the Navy water system, complaining of fuel or chemical smells from the drinking water; and WHEREAS, on December 6, 2021, this body sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, to request that the Navy prepare a plan to decommission the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility and store the fuel in an alternate location; and to request a detailed plan for a water treatment facility to address potential contamination as a result of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility; and WHEREAS, also on December 6, 2021, the Department of Health issued an emergency order requiring the United States Navy to immediately suspend operations at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, as it represents "an imminent peril to human health and safety or the environment" and to take measures to treat contaminated drinking water at the Red Hill Shaft and to safely remove all fuel from the twenty underground storage tanks at Red Hill; and WHEREAS, the emergency order also stated that, given the number of incidences that have occurred at Red Hill over the past year, and in view of the current drinking water contamination, the United States Navy has not demonstrated and cannot ensure that immediate and appropriate response actions are available or will be available should another fuel release occur in the future; and WHEREAS, on January 3, 2022, the Department of Health issued its Final Decision, Order, Findings of Fact, and Conclusions of Law, upholding the December 6, 2021, emergency order; and WHEREAS, this body agrees with and fully supports the December 6, 2021, emergency order and the January 3, 2022, final decision by the Department of Health; and WHEREAS, the continued operation of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, consisting of twenty field-constructed underground storage tanks, pipelines, and related infrastructure, is an unacceptable threat to Oahu's groundwater aquifer; and WHEREAS, the United States Environmental Protection Agency designated Oahu's groundwater aquifer source as one of nine sole-source aquifers and determined that this is the principal source of drinking water for Oahu and if contaminated, would create a significant hazard to public health; and WHEREAS, the City and County of Honolulu Board of Water Supply is exercising all due caution and will not reopen its Aiea and Halawa shafts until it can confirm that its systems will not be negatively impacted by contaminants migrating from Red Hill; and WHEREAS, the permanent loss of water supply from the Aiea and Halawa shafts could lead to water restrictions or shortages and have a cascading effect on construction, schools, public health and safety; and WHEREAS, on December 21, 2021, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, established the House Interim Committee on Red Hill and appointed the following members: (1) Representative Ryan I. Yamane, Co-Chair; (2) Representative Nicole E. Lowen, Co-Chair; (3) Representative Sonny Ganaden; (4) Representative Linda Ichiyama; (5) Representative Aaron Ling Johanson; (6) Representative Lauren Matsumoto; (7) Representative Takashi Ohno; and (8) Representative David A. Tarnas; and WHEREAS, the purpose of the House Interim Committee was to recommend legislative proposals for the 2022 Regular Session that focus on the containment, treatment, and prevention of water quality matters related to Red Hill; and WHEREAS, on December 29, 2021, the House Interim Committee on Red Hill conducted a joint informational briefing with the Senate to receive updates from the Navy regarding the water contamination and remediation; and WHEREAS, the House Interim Committee on Red Hill also discussed legislation for 2022 and, among other items, recommended continuation of the committee during the 2022 Regular Session to address emerging issues regarding Red Hill; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2022, that there is established the House Special Committee on Red Hill, to address issues related to the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, water contamination and remediation, and all related impacts; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Special Committee shall consist of the co-chairs and members of the House Interim Committee on Red Hill; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Special Committee may conduct informational briefings on issues related to Red Hill and take any other actions as the committee deems appropriate; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Special Committee meet and report on a regular basis to the House of Representatives. OFFERED BY: _____________________________ Report Title: House Special Committee on Red Hill; Established
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47	47	WHEREAS, the House of Representatives finds that the State of Hawaii faces an emergency that requires immediate and decisive action; and
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51	51	WHEREAS, on November 28, 2021, users of the Navy's Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam water system complained of a fuel odor coming from their water, as well as an oily sheen on their water; and
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55	55	WHEREAS, numerous residents reported their families and pets experienced health issues after consuming the water, including rashes, mouth sores, stomach aches, vomiting, burning eyes, sore throats, headaches, and nausea; and
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59	59	WHEREAS, on November 29, 2021, the Department of Health issued an advisory to all users on the Navy's water system to avoid using the tap water for drinking, cooking, or oral hygiene and also advised that users who detect a fuel odor from their water should avoid using the water for drinking, cooking, bathing, dishwashing, laundry, or oral hygiene; and
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63	63	WHEREAS, as a direct result of the water contamination, over three thousand residents were required to move out of their homes and several businesses were shut down or were forced to limit their operations; and
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67	67	WHEREAS, several Hawaii public schools and child development centers on the Navy water system were also impacted by the water contamination, forced to close off sinks and water fountains and use only bottled water for handwashing, dishwashing, and drinking purposes; and
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71	71	WHEREAS, the City and County of Honolulu Board of Water Supply, to protect its drinking water system, has shut down multiple water sources, including the Halawa Shaft, which supplies approximately twenty percent of water to urban Honolulu; and
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75	75	WHEREAS, the suspected source of the water contamination was from a November 20, 2021, release of approximately fourteen thousand gallons of a mixture of water and fuel from a crack in a fire suppression drain line at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility; and the United States Navy has identified JP-5, or jet fuel, in the Red Hill Shaft, one of the drinking water sources for the Navy water system; and
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79	79	WHEREAS, as of December 3, 2021, the Department of Health received nearly five hundred complaints, mostly from residents or customers served by the Navy water system, complaining of fuel or chemical smells from the drinking water; and
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83	83	WHEREAS, on December 6, 2021, this body sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, to request that the Navy prepare a plan to decommission the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility and store the fuel in an alternate location; and to request a detailed plan for a water treatment facility to address potential contamination as a result of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility; and
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87	87	WHEREAS, also on December 6, 2021, the Department of Health issued an emergency order requiring the United States Navy to immediately suspend operations at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, as it represents "an imminent peril to human health and safety or the environment" and to take measures to treat contaminated drinking water at the Red Hill Shaft and to safely remove all fuel from the twenty underground storage tanks at Red Hill; and
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91	91	WHEREAS, the emergency order also stated that, given the number of incidences that have occurred at Red Hill over the past year, and in view of the current drinking water contamination, the United States Navy has not demonstrated and cannot ensure that immediate and appropriate response actions are available or will be available should another fuel release occur in the future; and
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95	95	WHEREAS, on January 3, 2022, the Department of Health issued its Final Decision, Order, Findings of Fact, and Conclusions of Law, upholding the December 6, 2021, emergency order; and
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99	99	WHEREAS, this body agrees with and fully supports the December 6, 2021, emergency order and the January 3, 2022, final decision by the Department of Health; and
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103	103	WHEREAS, the continued operation of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, consisting of twenty field-constructed underground storage tanks, pipelines, and related infrastructure, is an unacceptable threat to Oahu's groundwater aquifer; and
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107	107	WHEREAS, the United States Environmental Protection Agency designated Oahu's groundwater aquifer source as one of nine sole-source aquifers and determined that this is the principal source of drinking water for Oahu and if contaminated, would create a significant hazard to public health; and
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111	111	WHEREAS, the City and County of Honolulu Board of Water Supply is exercising all due caution and will not reopen its Aiea and Halawa shafts until it can confirm that its systems will not be negatively impacted by contaminants migrating from Red Hill; and
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115	115	WHEREAS, the permanent loss of water supply from the Aiea and Halawa shafts could lead to water restrictions or shortages and have a cascading effect on construction, schools, public health and safety; and
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119	119	WHEREAS, on December 21, 2021, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, established the House Interim Committee on Red Hill and appointed the following members:
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123	123	(1) Representative Ryan I. Yamane, Co-Chair;
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127	127	(2) Representative Nicole E. Lowen, Co-Chair;
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131	131	(3) Representative Sonny Ganaden;
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135	135	(4) Representative Linda Ichiyama;
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139	139	(5) Representative Aaron Ling Johanson;
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143	143	(6) Representative Lauren Matsumoto;
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147	147	(7) Representative Takashi Ohno; and
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151	151	(8) Representative David A. Tarnas; and
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155	155	WHEREAS, the purpose of the House Interim Committee was to recommend legislative proposals for the 2022 Regular Session that focus on the containment, treatment, and prevention of water quality matters related to Red Hill; and
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159	159	WHEREAS, on December 29, 2021, the House Interim Committee on Red Hill conducted a joint informational briefing with the Senate to receive updates from the Navy regarding the water contamination and remediation; and
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163	163	WHEREAS, the House Interim Committee on Red Hill also discussed legislation for 2022 and, among other items, recommended continuation of the committee during the 2022 Regular Session to address emerging issues regarding Red Hill; now, therefore,
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167	167	BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2022, that there is established the House Special Committee on Red Hill, to address issues related to the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, water contamination and remediation, and all related impacts; and
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171	171	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Special Committee shall consist of the co-chairs and members of the House Interim Committee on Red Hill; and
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175	175	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Special Committee may conduct informational briefings on issues related to Red Hill and take any other actions as the committee deems appropriate; and
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179	179	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Special Committee meet and report on a regular basis to the House of Representatives.
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187	187	OFFERED BY: _____________________________
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191	191	OFFERED BY:
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193	193	_____________________________
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199	199	Report Title:
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201	201	House Special Committee on Red Hill; Established