Action Alert: 💧Free the Water Commission & Clean Up Red Hill
One last chance for meaningful reform of the Water Commission, protection of our wai and remediation of Red Hill has survived this legislative session. HB 2690, HD2, SD1 has advanced to conference committee. This bill importantly both provides support and oversight for the remediation of Red Hill and protects the Water Commission from political influence. However, no public testimony is allowed for conference committee hearings. We urge you to contact conferees (lawmakers appointed to conference committee) today to voice your support for HB2690, HD2, SD1.
Why is This Important?
Despite Hawaiʻi’s water being held in a public trust, for too long special interests have exerted undue political influence over our wai leading to disastrous mismanagement. We unfortunately witnessed the worst kind political influence and attempted water grabs in the aftermath of the Lāhainā fires. Wealthy developers seeking water for luxury developments, using the cover of the recent disaster, engaged in a damaging misinformation campaign that was parroted in both local and national media. This misinformation campaign led to the temporary revoking of the water code, threats of undoing the hard won Maui Komohana water management area and the unwarranted scapegoating and reassignment of then Deputy Director Manuel.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court dropped a scathing opinion, reprimanding the AG for exploiting the Lahaina fire and acting in “bad faith” when they filed a petition on behalf of Alexander & Baldwin and East Maui Irrigation in a shameless water grab. We’ve known that the AG has been working with these large landowners to hoard as much water as they can, but now the Supreme Court and everyone else knows it, too!
Unfortunately, despite all of the media surrounding these “bad faith” actions , some of these conferees will still attempt to kill HB2690, SD1. If they can’t do that, they will at least try to cut everything in it from SB3327 that will eliminate political influence on our water policy.
What You Can Do!
Because of this, we ask that you please:
Urge the conferees and your legislators to pass HB2690, SD1 as it it currently drafted – we need both Parts I and II to effectuate policy change and address the immediate needs of the Lahaina community; Click Here: This easy to use tool from our partners at the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi allows you to contact all conferees quickly!
Join us for a Grassroots Lobby Day (April 23, 12-4 pm at the capitol) to lobby for HB2690 and kākoʻo Lahaina Strong in their other lobbying efforts (April 24, 9 am at the capitol)
What Does HB 2690, HD2, SD1 Do?
Part I: Establishes a WAI Policy Coordinator and other positions within the Commission on Water Resource Management for coordination of Red Hill WAI initiatives. Creates the Red Hill Remediation Special Fund. Declares that the general fund expenditure ceiling is exceeded. Appropriates funds.
Part II: Allows the Commission of Water Resource Management to retain independent legal counsel. Repeals the position of deputy to the chairperson of the Commission and establishes the position of Executive Director of the Commission. Amends the composition of the Commission and administratively attaches it to DLNR. Authorizes entities to challenge an emergency order of the Commission under certain conditions. Establishes fines for certain water use offenses. Amends the Commission's authority to declare water emergencies and issue orders to address them and declare water shortages and related notice requirements. Specifying that the nominating committee of the Commission shall include one person appointed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
Ola i ka wai! Mahalo for taking action!
