Bill Text: HI SR40 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Requesting The Department Of Land And Natural Resources, In Collaboration With The National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration, To Explore The Possibility Of Using Autonomous Unmanned Surface Vessel Technology To Detect And Clean Up Ocean Debris Before It Reaches Hawaii's Reefs And Beaches.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-0)

Status: (Passed) 2017-05-30 - Certified copies of resolutions sent, 05-30-17. [SR40 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2017-SR40-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	40
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO support the use of autonomous unmanned surface vessel TECHNOLOGY TO DETECT AND CLEAN UP ocean DEBRIS before it reaches hawaii's reefs and beaches.

 

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's beaches are covered with marine debris in the form of pieces of plastic, bottles, nylon nets, and other floating objects of man-made pollution that the Pacific Ocean currents and winds continuously bring to the Hawaiian islands; and

 

     WHEREAS, to protect Hawaii's reefs and aquatic habitats, it is necessary to remove macro and microplastic debris from the oceans; and

 

     WHEREAS, these plastic particles decompose but never biodegrade, breaking down into polymers and then into molecular size pieces which are invisible to the naked eye, and remain suspended in the upper water column; and

 

     WHEREAS, these decomposed plastics release polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and other known toxic chemicals which are ingested by Hawaii's birds, Hawaiian monk seals, and fish; and

 

     WHEREAS, fish ingesting the toxic PCB are in turn consumed by humans; and

 

     WHEREAS, the floating pollution made up mostly of plastic aggregate accumulates in large gyres in the Central and Western Pacific before finding its way to Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, this plastic debris now threatens the beauty of the Hawaiian islands, its tourism industry, its wildlife, and the health of its people; and

 

     WHEREAS, an inventor from Kailua developed an autonomous unmanned surface vessel (AUSV) system that is capable of cleaning up floating ocean debris; and

 

     WHEREAS, this AUSV technology is used by Clear Blue Sea, a nonprofit entity, to help clean the ocean; and

 

     WHEREAS, the mission of Clear Blue Sea is to ensure the survival of the marine ecosystem and the health of the maritime economy by removing macro and microplastic debris from the oceans; and

 

     WHEREAS, it is estimated that marine debris in the Pacific ocean causes about $1,270,000,000 in damage per year to the fishing, shipping, and marine tourism industries; and

 

     WHEREAS, Clear Blue Sea has the capability of cleaning ocean trash gyres, such as the great Pacific ocean garbage patch, which is significantly far away from land, in a cost-effective and safe manner; and

 

     WHEREAS, ocean going AUSVs are managed by satellite and can remove millions of tons of plastic debris from the remote Pacific gyres where the plastic congregates before being carried to Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, satellite control of the AUSV drones and ocean research on drone technology is an economic niche that takes advantage of Hawaii's unique location; and

 

     WHEREAS, the development of AUSV drone technology may help diversify Hawaii's economy and provide future jobs in the high tech industry; and

 

     WHEREAS, in addition to the potential economic benefits of AUSV technology, the use of such technology to help clean Hawaii's beaches of plastic debris will help protect Hawaii's ocean wildlife and keep the beaches clean for all to enjoy; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2017, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested support the use of AUSV technology to detect and clean up ocean debris before it reaches Hawaii's reefs and beaches; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources evaluate the benefits of using the AUSV system utilized by Clear Blue Sea; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources and President of Clear Blue Sea.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Beach Debris; Autonomous Unmanned Surface Vessel