Hawaii House Bill HCR136

Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/8/24
• Refer: 3/13/24

Caption

Authorizing The Cancellation Of Governor's Executive Order No. 3006 And Reset Aside To The County Of Maui, Department Of Environmental Management, For Sewage Treatment Plant Purposes, Kahului, Wailuku, Maui, Tax Map Key Number: (2) 3-8-001:188 And Seaward Of 188 And The Issuance Of A Perpetual, Non-exclusive Easement To The County Of Maui, Department Of Environmental Management, For Wastewater Force Main Purposes, Kahului, Wailuku, Maui, Tax Map Key Number: (2) 3-8-001: Portion Of 119.

Impact

The resolution seeks to streamline land management processes by authorizing a new executive order that accommodates the updated land area needed for the facility's operations. The proposed adjustment would increase the area from 18.755 acres to 19.289 acres, including additional land necessary for wastewater force main purposes. This change also involves transitioning the land management from the Department of Public Works to the Department of Environmental Management, ensuring that the agency tasked with facility operations is adequately recognized in the official land documentation.

Summary

HCR136, a House Concurrent Resolution in the Hawaii State Legislature, addresses the cancellation of Governor's Executive Order No. 3006 and the reset to the County of Maui for the purposes of managing a sewage treatment plant in Kahului. The bill specifically pertains to the Wailuku-Kahului Wastewater Reclamation Facility, which is crucial for wastewater management in the central region of Maui. The land, originally granted to the County in 1980 under the executive order, necessitated adjustments due to a shoreline certification action initiated in 2014, which revealed encroachments beyond the designated boundaries of the original order.

Contention

One notable point of contention surrounding HCR136 revolves around the implications of canceling a long-standing executive order and the necessity of such a measure. Critiques may arise regarding the handling and management of public land resources and whether this alteration is purely a procedural adjustment or indicative of larger systemic shifts in environmental policy and governance. Ensuring proper notification and engagement with community stakeholders is crucial to address any concerns that may arise from these changes.

Further_notes

The resolution’s passage would also authorize the issuance of a perpetual, non-exclusive easement to the County for wastewater force main purposes among the site, representing an administrative need to formalize the arrangements for effective utility management. The legislative approval of such measures indicates the state’s approach to balancing environmental management responsibilities with infrastructural requirements.