Urge Governor Green to allow HB1088 and HB153 to become law
The uniqueness of Hawaiʻi’s freshwater landscape puts our island home at a higher risk of water shortages and emergencies. Coupled with the growing impacts of the climate crisis, our agencies must have the tools they need to respond to water crises and protect our water and priority water uses, including for affordable housing, in a timely manner. As we witnessed, and continue to live, through the Red Hill crisis, water shortages and emergencies happen without notice and a rapid and meaningful response is vital to safeguarding the well-being of our freshwater resources and people. HB1088 and HB153 are necessary to best protect our water resources now and in the future, for all of Hawaiʻi’s people. I urge you to allow these important bills to become law.
HB1088 enables the Commission on Water Resource Management to better ensure public needs are prioritized during a water emergency, such as one that the Red Hill crisis continues to threaten—most importantly, in a timely manner, without undergoing a time consuming, months-long planning and rulemaking processes before taking action to preserve fresh drinking water supplies in a water emergency.
HB153 authorizes the Commission on Water Resource Management to impose meaningful fines against those who could otherwise over pump our aquifers and drain our streams dry with impunity, notwithstanding the law or the needs of the community. The current $5,000 daily fine is wholly insufficient to hold multinational corporations - or the Department of Defense - accountable if and when their water code violations impact priority public needs, including for affordable housing.
Governor Green, do what is right for Hawaiʻi’s water security today and for generations to come. Please reverse your intent to veto HB1088 and HB153 and allow the bills to become law.
SIGN THE PETITION
