The state House committees on energy and environmental protections will review a bill aimed at regulating the interisland spread of invasive species at 8:30 a.m. today. ADVERTISING The state House committees on energy and environmental protections will review a bill
The state House committees on energy and environmental protections will review a bill aimed at regulating the interisland spread of invasive species at 8:30 a.m. today.
The state House committees on energy and environmental protections will review a bill aimed at regulating the interisland spread of invasive species at 8:30 a.m. today.
Parts of SB2347 would prohibit the transportation of the pests and establishes penalties for violations, including language that would require any commercial entity that transports the invasive species to pay a fine equal to the value of the infested shipment.
The possibility of a penalty has caused concern for some Big Island nursery operators.
The bill would put the state Department of Agriculture in charge of identifying infested areas, providing information about managing and mitigating the pest populations and working with commercial entities to implement the practices.
According to a series of emails between the Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association and Ken Kakesako, deputy to the chair of the DOA, representatives from both HFNA and DOA will meet to discuss issues concerning the bill on April 7.
