Bill Text: HI HR100 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Convening The Hawaii Dam Safety Task Force.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-14 - Referred to WLH, FIN, referral sheet 33 [HR100 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2019-HR100-Introduced.html

---

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	100
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

Convening the hawaii dam safety task force.

 

 

     WHEREAS, recent weather events and future weather projections for the State indicate periods of heavy, damaging rains followed by periods of drought; and

 

WHEREAS, increasing Hawaii's ability to manage extreme weather events is a matter of significant public concern; and

 

WHEREAS, storms with heavy rainfall can cause significant environmental damage, including sediment runoff into the ocean that threatens coral reefs and aquatic species; and

 

     WHEREAS, storms accompanied by heavy rainfall can also cause flooding, including flash flooding, that threatens property and lives; and

 

     WHEREAS, there is a need to reduce damaging floodwaters while also capturing rainwater for use during times of drought and for groundwater recharge; and

 

WHEREAS, when combined with a dam system, reservoirs can help prevent loss of life and property caused by flooding, as flood control dams can impound floodwater and then release it under control to a river below the dam, or store or divert the water for other uses; and

 

     WHEREAS, reservoirs are effective at capturing abundant rainfall that can then be used during drier periods, including droughts; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State's duty to increase agricultural self-sufficiency pursuant to article XI, section 3, of the state constitution, will not be possible without sufficient water resources during times of drought; and

     WHEREAS, difficulties in complying with current state dam safety regulations, in addition to liability concerns, spur landowners to decommission, rather than continue operation of, existing reservoirs; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2019, that a Hawaii Dam Safety Task Force be convened to:

 

(1)  Reevaluate the Hawaii Dam and Reservoir Safety Act of 2007, pursuant to chapter 179D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, specifically with respect to liability concerns; and

 

(2)  Develop a strategic plan regarding dam safety to address climate fluctuations and Hawaii's need for water for the environment and its people; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Dam Safety Task Force comprise the:

 

(1)  Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, or the Chairperson's designee;

 

(2)  Chief Engineer of the Department of Land and Natural Resources Engineering Division, who shall serve as chairperson of the task force;

 

(3)  Deputy of the Department of Land and Natural Resources Commission on Water Resources Management, or the Deputy's designee;

 

(4)  President of the Executive Board of the Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts, or the President's designee;

 

(5)  Director of the University of Hawaii Water Resources Research Center, or the Director's designee;

 

(6)  Dean and Director for Research and Cooperative Extension of the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, or the Dean and Director's designee;

 

(7)  Director of the City and County of Honolulu Department of Design and Construction, or the Director's designee;

 

(8)  Director of the Hawaii County Department of Public Works, or the Director's designee;

 

(9)  Director of the Maui County Department of Public Works, or the Director's designee;

 

(10) County Engineer of the Kauai County Department of Public Works, or the County Engineer's designee;

 

(11) Manager and Chief Engineer of the City and County of Honolulu Board of Water Supply, or the Manager and Chief Engineer's designee;

 

(12) Manager and Chief Engineer of the Hawaii County Department of Water Supply, or the Manager and Chief Engineer's designee;

 

(13) Director of the Maui County Department of Water Supply, or the Director's designee; and

 

(14) Manager and Chief Engineer of the Kauai County Department of Water, or the Manager and Chief Engineer's designee; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chairperson of the task force invite a representative from each of the following entities to serve as task force members:

 

(1)  United States Department of Agriculture National Resource Conservation Service Pacific Islands Area State Office;

 

     (2)  The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii;

 

     (3)  Hawaii Farm Bureau;

     (4)  Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; and

 

     (5)  Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to perform an analysis and develop a strategic plan that addresses:

 

(1)  Landowner concerns regarding liability, specifically as those concerns relate to the Hawaii Dam and Reservoir Safety Act of 2007;

 

(2)  Incentives for storage of water for use during times of drought; and

 

(3)  Strategic solutions in land use planning, including public-private partnerships; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Hawaii Dam Safety Task Force is requested to submit to the Legislature its proposed strategic plan, including its findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2020; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the: Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture; Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources; Chief Engineer of the Department of Land and Natural Resources Engineering Division; Deputy of the Department of Land and Natural Resources Commission on Water Resources Management; President of the Executive Board of the Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts; Director of the University of Hawaii Water Resources Research Center; Dean and Director for Research and Cooperative Extension of the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources; Director of the City and County of Honolulu Department of Design and Construction; Director of the Hawaii County Department of Public Works; Director of the Maui County Department of Public Works; Director of the Kauai County Department of Public Works; Manager and Chief Engineer of the City and County of Honolulu Board of Water Supply; Manager and Chief Engineer of the Hawaii County Department of Water Supply; Director of the Maui County Department of Water Supply; Manager and Chief Engineer of the Kauai County Department of Water; Director of the United States Department of Agriculture National Resource Conservation Service Pacific Islands Area State Office; Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii; Executive Director of the Hawaii Farm Bureau; President of the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; and Executive Director of the Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Convening the Hawaii Dam Safety Task Force