THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

42

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII, AND UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO COLLABORATE ON PLANNING FOR A MULTIAGENCY FACILITY FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AND OTHER CONTAINMENT RESEARCH.

 

 

     WHEREAS, the recent invasion by disease-bearing organisms, insects, snakes, weeds, and other pests is the single greatest threat to Hawaii's economy and natural environment and to the health and lifestyle of Hawaii's people; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii has a long and successful history of using biological control, a pest management method wherethe natural enemy agents of an invasive species reunite to combat those invasive species in an invaded range; and

 

     WHEREAS, biological control is one of the most cost-effective strategies for the control and management of widespread invasive species; and

 

     WHEREAS, the methods for biological control research utilize careful evaluations to demonstrate that selected agents do not substantially impact any species other than the targeted invasive species; and

 

     WHEREAS, biological control has been used to save native plant species, such as the wiliwili tree from invasive gall wasps, and is being used to limit the spread of invasive plant species, such as strawberry guava and fireweed; and

 

     WHEREAS, the biological control research facilities of the Department of Agriculture, University of Hawaii, and United States Department of Agriculture Pacific Southwest Research Station have become outdated and, in some cases, unusable; and

 

     WHEREAS, thelimitations of existing facilities restrict the types and quantities of biological control research that can be conducted in Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii Interagency Biosecurity Plan identifies the planning and construction of biological control research facilities as a top priority for enhancing biosecurity in the State of Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Legislature provided funds to the Department of Agriculture in 2018 to begin site evaluations for a new biological control facility; and

 

     WHEREAS, following the Western Governors' Biosecurity and Invasive Species Initiative, a group of state and federal stakeholders have identified the need for a multiagency, regional faciility to address the capacity needs of both state and federal researchers working in Hawaii and in the Pacific region; and

 

     WHEREAS, existing facilities in Hawaii could better protect the agriculture and environment of the State and the Pacific region through the biological control research conducted at a multiagency, regional facility; and

 

     WHEREAS, such a facility could also be used for other types of research that require secure containment features, such as studies of invasive fruit flies or mosquitoes; and

 

     WHEREAS, the planning and construction of such a facility will require substantial stakeholder engagement and investments from state, federal, and other funding sources over several years; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2020, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department Agriculture, University of Hawaii, and United States Department of Agricultureare requested to collaborate on planning a multiagency, regional facility for biological control and other containment research in Hawaii; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Agriculture is requested to submit a report to the Legislature on the status and progress of the multiagency biological control facility, including federal engagement in the planning process, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of eachRegular Session of 2021-2027; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature supports multiagency efforts towardtheplanning and construction of necessary biological control and containment facilitiesin Hawaii; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture, Board of Agriculture of the Department of Agriculture, Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii, and President of the University of Hawaii.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Biological Control Facility; Containment Research; Multiagency Planning; Department of Agriculture; University of Hawaii; United States Department of Agriculture