URGING THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH TO REQUIRE OPERATORS OF WASTE COMBUSTION FACILITIES TO IMPLEMENT CONTINUOUS MONITORING AND SAMPLING TECHNOLOGIES THAT HAVE BEEN TESTED AND VERIFIED BY THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY TO ENSURE THAT THE OPERATORS CONTINUOUSLY MONITOR, SAMPLE, AND REPORT THE EMISSIONS OF CONTAMINANTS.

This Senate Resolution (SR 86) urges Hawaii's Director of Health to require operators of waste combustion facilities - specifically targeting the H-POWER facility in Honolulu - to implement continuous monitoring and sampling of emissions using EPA-tested technology. Currently, H-POWER only monitors four pollutants continuously and tests others annually under ideal conditions, while studies cited in the resolution show annual testing underestimates harmful emissions (like dioxins) by up to 1,290 times compared to continuous monitoring. The resolution requests that operators continuously track, sample, and report all emissions, aligning with practices in states like Oregon and other facilities operated by H-POWER's parent company. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new law but seeks to improve air quality data accuracy for public health and environmental protection.