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�Nvv or <br /> rY Wil Okabe <br /> 7„ ,,, �"£ Managing Director <br /> Harry Kim 1•i N`'°-1t=• <br /> Mayor • -s_ Barbara J.Kossow <br /> •oi, j`• +p�: Deputy Managing Director <br /> rt Oi'N• <br /> County of Paitnne . <br /> `t <br /> ®ffirr of tilt gliztuor <br /> 25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2603 • Hilo,Hawaii 96720 • (808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553 <br /> KONA- 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy,Bldg C • Kailua-Kona,Hawaii 96740 <br /> (808)323-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440 <br /> March 20, 2017 <br /> Representative Kaniela Ing, Chair <br /> Committee on Ocean, Marine Resources, <br /> & Hawaiian Affairs <br /> Hawai'i State Capitol <br /> Honolulu, HI 96813 <br /> Dear Chair Ing and Committee Members <br /> RE: SB 1150, SD 2, HD 1 <br /> Relating to Preserving Coral Reefs (Sunscreen) <br /> If there is a scientific consensus that sunscreen containing oxybenzone is <br /> harmful to the environment, and that it is worse than the alternative sunscreen products <br /> available, I would urge the Legislature to ban the sale of products containing <br /> oxybenzone in Hawaii. It would not eliminate the problem entirely (tourists might still <br /> bring product in) but I would think that the use of the chemical in Hawaii would be <br /> dramatically reduced, far more than an education program ever could accomplish. <br /> However, your decision should be based on science, and the Department of <br /> Health's earlier testimony, on this bill and the House companion, suggests that science <br /> is not ready to make that call. <br /> If the Committee believes there is enough evidence on which to act, I would urge <br /> the Legislature to use HB 450 as an appropriate vehicle to forcefully address the <br /> problem, as suggested above. If, on the other hand, you do not feel you have enough <br /> facts, then limiting the chemical's use as set forth in HD1, and providing for a study that <br /> could generate more information, is worthy of your approval. <br /> Resp-ctfully submitted, <br /> Harry Kim <br /> Mayor <br /> County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer <br />