2020-02-18 Letter to Donovan M. Dela Cruz and Gilbert S.C. Keith-Agaran SB 2379 Relating to Cesspools

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o;+�v;os„4 Roy Takemoto •••o, �, Managing Director \‘iili ,� ' Harry Kim ,.y - + , ,. r .S Mayor Barbara J. Kossow ATE oF'M►'�=` Deputy Managing Director County of Hawai`i Office of the Mayor 25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • (808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg C • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 (808)323-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440 February 18, 2020 Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz, Chair Senator Gilbert S.C. Keith-Agaran, Vice Chair Committee on Ways and Means Dear Chair Dela Cruz, Vice Chair Keith-Agaran, and Committee Members: RE: SB 2379 Relating to Cesspools SB 2379 calls for research, education, and outreach, with respect to the impact of cesspools on Hawaii's waters. While I applaud this initiative, I would like to ask for one amendment. Right now, the bill calls for communicating "the need for statewide conversion of cesspools to protect the coastal and nearshore environment..." and "solutions that support converting all cesspools in the State by 2050." My suggestion is that this research could be more objective if one of its tasks was to determine whether there was a scientific basis for forcing the expensive conversion of"all" cesspools. I realize that present law requires such conversion. But objective research might reveal that geographic exceptions could be made without impacting waters at all, thereby saving millions of dollars and a lot of heartache, with no countervailing negative consequences. Since you are funding research anyway, wouldn't it make sense to be sure that the premise on which the research is based is scientifically sound? I hope you will amend SB 2379 to make this simple but meaningful change and thank you for your consideration. fGRe ctfully Submitted, 2" I LA.,)„Th Harry MAYOR County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.