Bill > SB543

This bill addresses water resource management and remediation efforts related to the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility's contamination of Oahu's groundwater. The bill establishes a WAI (Water Alliance Initiative) Policy Coordinator within the Commission on Water Resource Management to facilitate implementation of remediation efforts, monitor ecosystem health, develop a public-facing dashboard of test results, and coordinate a 36-month public education program about Red Hill's post-defueling remediation. The bill creates a Red Hill Remediation Special Fund to support monitoring, research, public outreach, and evaluation efforts, with funding from legislative appropriations, gifts, and grants. Additionally, the bill makes several changes to the Commission on Water Resource Management, including allowing it to retain independent legal counsel, replacing the Deputy to the Chairperson with an Executive Director, modifying the commission's composition to include a representative from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and expanding its authority to declare water emergencies and issue related orders. The bill also establishes new penalty provisions for water use violations, with fines up to $25,000 per violation and consideration of factors like violation history, economic benefit, and good faith efforts to comply. The changes aim to improve water resource management, address the Red Hill fuel facility's environmental impact, and enhance the commission's operational effectiveness.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=543&year=2025