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REPORT OF THE <br /> COMMITTEE ON CLIMATE RESILIENCE <br /> AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT <br /> DATE: May 17, 2022 Re: Comm. No. 771/Bill No. 167 <br /> PLACE: Council Chambers <br /> Hilo, Hawaii <br /> TIME: 1:16 p.m. <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br /> Your Committee on Climate Resilience and Natural Resource Management, to which was <br /> referred Bill 167, reports as follows: <br /> Bill No. 167, submitted by Committee Members Holeka Goro Inaba and Rebecca Villegas via <br /> Communication 771, dated April 26, 2022, amends Chapter 14 of the Hawaii County Code 1983 <br /> (2016 Edition, as Amended), by adding a new article relating to the prohibition of non-mineral <br /> sunscreen. <br /> The purpose of the bill is to prohibit the sale or distribution of any sunscreen that uses anything <br /> except titanium dioxide or zinc oxide as active ingredients, and to preserve the health, safety, and <br /> welfare of humans and the environment, by allowing only mineral sunscreens to be provided, <br /> sold, offered for sale, or distributed in the County. <br /> Ramzi Mansour, Director of Environmental Management expressed his support of the ban, but <br /> said he isn't sure his department has the resources to enforce it. <br /> Committee Member Aaron Chung commented that the State already has implemented a similar <br /> ban on sunscreens, but he added that nobody on the Council is a chemist and is requesting more <br /> information about why oxybenzone and octinoxate are considered harmful while the substances <br /> excluded by the proposed ban are not. He is also requesting Corporation Counsel confirm <br /> whether state law allows the County to implement such a ban on its own, or whether the <br /> proposed ban contradicts the State ban in any way. <br /> Committee Member Tim Richards commented that the Council is taking on face value that these <br /> chemicals (titanium dioxide and zinc oxide) are effective and is requesting further information <br /> about the science involved. <br /> Committee Member Holeka Goro Inaba responded that the only two chemicals out of about <br /> 16 commonly used sunscreen active ingredients are both effective and considered generally safe <br /> for coral reefs and other marine life according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. <br /> The vote was then taken on the motion to move this measure to Council with a favorable <br /> recommendation and passed with 9 "ayes". <br /> CRNRMC Report No.: 2 <br />