SR 84: requesting the governor to convene a temporary working group to investigate THE EXISTENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL DANGERS OF PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES AND other RELATED CHEMICALS.

SENATE RESOLUTION

requesting the governor to convene a temporary working group to investigate THE EXISTENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL DANGERS OF PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES AND other RELATED CHEMICALS.

     WHEREAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemicals widely used in consumer products, industrial processes, and firefighting foams, and are known to persist in the environment and accumulate in the human body over time; and

     WHEREAS, exposure to PFAS has been linked to significant health risks, including but not limited to cancer, liver damage, developmental issues, weakened immune systems, and endocrine disruption; and

     WHEREAS, PFAS contamination has been detected in water supplies, soil, and air across the United States, raising concerns about the presence of these toxic substances in Hawaii and their impact on the health of its residents and natural resources; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's ecosystems, including its waterways, bodies of water, fish, and other animals consumed by humans, are integral to the State's food security and cultural practices; and

     WHEREAS, the geographic isolation of the State and its reliance on a delicate and limited supply of fresh water heighten the need for a thorough understanding of PFAS contamination and its potential impacts on human health and the environment; and

     WHEREAS, testing in bodies of water and waterways, as well as testing fish and other animals for human consumption, is necessary to identify contamination, assess potential health risks, and ensure the safety of food and water sources in Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, the creation of a temporary working group can provide a centralized and coordinated approach to assess PFAS‑related issues, engage with stakeholders, and propose actionable recommendations; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Governor is requested to convene a temporary working group to investigate the existence and environmental dangers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and other related chemicals; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following individuals are requested to serve as members of the working group:

     (1)  A representative from the Department of Health;

     (2)  A representative from the Department of Land and Natural Resources;

     (3)  A representative from the Department of Agriculture;

     (4)  A representative from the University of Hawaii System; and

     (5)  Any other relevant stakeholders, including environmental organizations, industry representatives, and community groups, as determined by the members of the working group; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to:

     (1)  Identify locations in the State where PFAS contamination is present or suspected, including potential sources such as military installations, industrial sites, and landfills;

     (2)  Conduct testing in waterways and bodies of water to assess contamination levels;

     (3)  Test fish and other animals consumed by humans to determine the extent of bioaccumulation and potential health risks;

     (4)  Assess the environmental and public health risks associated with PFAS exposure, particularly in sensitive ecosystems and vulnerable communities;

     (5)  Review existing regulations and practices to identify gaps in PFAS management and mitigation;

     (6)  Propose strategies for testing, monitoring, remediation, and prevention of PFAS contamination; and

     (7)  Recommend changes to state policies, programs, and resources to address PFAS-related challenges effectively; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit interim reports to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Sessions of 2026 and 2027, and submit a final report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the Regular Session of 2028, and that these reports are requested to include findings, recommendations, proposed legislation, and potential funding sources; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Director of Health, Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, and President of the University of Hawaii.

Report Title: 

PFAS; Working Group; Environmental Danger; Reports

SENATE RESOLUTION

requesting the governor to convene a temporary working group to investigate THE EXISTENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL DANGERS OF PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES AND other RELATED CHEMICALS.

     WHEREAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemicals widely used in consumer products, industrial processes, and firefighting foams, and are known to persist in the environment and accumulate in the human body over time; and

     WHEREAS, exposure to PFAS has been linked to significant health risks, including but not limited to cancer, liver damage, developmental issues, weakened immune systems, and endocrine disruption; and

     WHEREAS, PFAS contamination has been detected in water supplies, soil, and air across the United States, raising concerns about the presence of these toxic substances in Hawaii and their impact on the health of its residents and natural resources; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's ecosystems, including its waterways, bodies of water, fish, and other animals consumed by humans, are integral to the State's food security and cultural practices; and

     WHEREAS, the geographic isolation of the State and its reliance on a delicate and limited supply of fresh water heighten the need for a thorough understanding of PFAS contamination and its potential impacts on human health and the environment; and

     WHEREAS, testing in bodies of water and waterways, as well as testing fish and other animals for human consumption, is necessary to identify contamination, assess potential health risks, and ensure the safety of food and water sources in Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, the creation of a temporary working group can provide a centralized and coordinated approach to assess PFAS-related issues, engage with stakeholders, and propose actionable recommendations; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Governor is requested to convene a temporary working group to investigate the existence and environmental dangers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and other related chemicals; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following individuals are requested to serve as members of the working group:

     (1)  A representative from the Department of Health;

     (2)  A representative from the Department of Land and Natural Resources;

     (3)  A representative from the Department of Agriculture;

     (4)  A representative from the University of Hawaii System; and

     (5)  Any other relevant stakeholders, including environmental organizations, industry representatives, and community groups; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to:

     (1)  Identify locations in Hawaii where PFAS contamination is present or suspected, including potential sources such as military installations, industrial sites, and landfills;

     (2)  Conduct testing in waterways and bodies of water to assess contamination levels;

     (3)  Test fish and other animals consumed by humans to determine the extent of bioaccumulation and potential health risks;

     (4)  Assess the environmental and public health risks associated with PFAS exposure, particularly in sensitive ecosystems and vulnerable communities;

     (5)  Review existing regulations and practices to identify gaps in PFAS management and mitigation;

     (6)  Propose strategies for testing, monitoring, remediation, and prevention of PFAS contamination; and

     (7)  Recommend changes to state policies, programs, and resources to address PFAS-related challenges effectively; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit interim reports to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Sessions of 2026 and 2027, with a final report to be submitted no later than twenty days prior to the Regular Session of 2028, and that these reports are requested to include findings, recommendations, proposed legislation, and potential funding sources; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Director of Health, Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, and President of the University of Hawaii.

Report Title: 

PFAS; Working Group; Environmental Danger

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1385

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 84

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.R. No. 84 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO CONVENE A TEMPORARY WORKING GROUP TO INVESTIGATE THE EXISTENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL DANGERS OF PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES AND OTHER RELATED CHEMICALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Request the Governor to convene a temporary working group to investigate the existence and environmental dangers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other related chemicals; and

     (2)  Request the working group to submit interim reports to the Legislature before the Regular Sessions of 2026 and 2027, with a final report to be submitted before the Regular Session of 2028.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Honolulu Board of Water Supply, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition, Climate Protectors Hawaii, Coalition Earth, and two individuals.

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

     Your Committee finds that PFAS are present and persistent in the environment and little is known of their impact in the State.  Your Committee notes that, in addition to the over nineteen thousand gallons of JP-5 jet fuel released at the United States Navy's Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility complex in November 2021, another leak of the fire suppression system at the Red Hill complex released over one thousand three hundred gallons of aqueous film forming foam concentrate, containing PFAS, into the environment a little over a year later on November 29, 2022.  Your Committee believes that the investigation requested in this measure is necessary for the ongoing monitoring and long-term cleanup of PFAS in the State.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that any other relevant stakeholders requested to serve as members of the working group be determined by the members of the working group; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 84, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 84, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,