Bill > SR68

This Resolution urges the Department of Health (DOH), Hawaii's state agency responsible for public health and environmental protection, to give priority to enforcing regulations that prevent water pollution, particularly in rural areas on Molokai that have already experienced reports of runoff and other forms of water contamination. The resolution acknowledges that climate change is causing more extreme rainfall, which can lead to polluted groundwater containing silt and debris that then washes into coastal areas, damaging marine reefs. It highlights past instances of severe reef damage from runoff on Kauai and notes that Molokai's southern reef, the longest continuous fringing reef in the United States, has also suffered significant harm from such pollution, especially in areas where land use activities destabilize the soil. In addition to prioritizing enforcement, the DOH is requested to report its findings, actions taken, progress, and any legislative recommendations to the Legislature by a specific date before the 2023 session.