Bill > SB438

This bill addresses waste disposal facility regulations in Hawaii with several key provisions aimed at protecting agricultural lands and water resources. Starting July 1, 2025, the bill prohibits constructing landfill units on agricultural district lands classified as having class A soils by the Land Study Bureau's detailed land classification. The bill narrows existing restrictions on waste disposal facilities, specifically targeting landfill units, by establishing a mandatory half-mile buffer zone from residential, school, or hospital property lines. Additionally, the legislation prohibits the construction, modification, or expansion of landfill units inland of underground injection control lines in counties with a population over 500,000. The bill's context is rooted in concerns about water contamination, particularly referencing the 2021 Red Hill fuel storage facility leak that impacted the Pearl Harbor-Hickam water system, and aims to protect freshwater aquifers and prime agricultural lands. These provisions reflect the legislature's intent to carefully manage waste disposal sites to minimize environmental and public health risks, with specific focus on protecting water sources and preserving agricultural lands for their intended use.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services, Justice

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=438&year=2025