HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.R. NO. |
129 |
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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HOUSE RESOLUTION
urging the implementation of THE joint fact finding study group'S recommendations for a concerted statewide effort for pesticide monitoring and oversight.
WHEREAS, in March 2016, the Joint Fact Finding Study Group established by the Hawaii State Department of Agriculture and County of Kauai Mayor released a draft report of its findings and recommendations on pesticide use by large agribusinesses on Kauai; and
WHEREAS, the Joint Fact Finding Study Group considered data related to:
(1) The amount of land used by agribusinesses;
(2) Pesticide usage by large agribusinesses;
(3) Evidence of environmental harm from agricultural pesticide use;
(4) Evidence of human health harms from agricultural pesticide use; and
(5) Existing governmental oversight and regulation concerning agricultural pesticide use; and
WHEREAS, the Joint Fact Finding Study Group noted that its findings and recommendations are hampered by the lack of exposure data, limited health and environmental data, limited access to proprietary information, and limited access to pesticide use data; and
WHEREAS, based on the available data and literature, the Joint Fact Finding Study Group found "important indications that signal Hawaii's political, regulatory, and community leaders need to be far more attentive to pesticide issues"; and
WHEREAS, based on the available data and literature, the Joint Fact Finding Study Group found there to be "a compelling case for the need to collect better data in the future and, most importantly, to systematically test the environment and population" for possible pesticide exposure; and
WHEREAS, the Joint Fact Finding Study Group recommended measures be undertaken by the Office of the Governor, Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, Department of Education, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and Office of Hawaiian Affairs to fill significant gaps in the State's existing understanding of pesticides; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2016, that the Office of the Governor, Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, Department of Education, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and Office of Hawaiian Affairs are respectfully urged to implement the recommendations pertaining to their respective offices and agencies as described in the draft report of the Joint Fact Finding Study Group entitled, "Pesticide Use by Large Agribusinesses on Kauai," March 2016, to expand current missions and fill missing data gaps in the existing statewide understanding and oversight of agricultural pesticide use and its implications on human health and environmental safety; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, Director of Health, Superintendent of Education, Chairperson of the Board of Education, Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
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OFFERED BY: |
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Pesticides