,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #eegh ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #bi1 #bjbf,ms4 ,hirono introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,federal ,water ,pollution ,control ,act to establish the ,hawaiian ,islands ,program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,hawaiian ,islands ,program ,title ,i of the ,federal ,water ,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #abea et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #abg4 ,hawaiian ,islands ,program 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,director ,the term ,director means the director of the ,office appointed under subsection 7b77#c77;,a74 7#b7 ,management conference ,the term management conference means the management conference convened pursuant to subsection 7c77#a74 7#c7 ,office ,the term ,office means the office required under subsection 7b77#b74 7#d7 ,program ,the term ,program means the ,hawaiian ,islands ,program established under subsection 7b77#a74 7#e7 ,responsible management entity ,the term responsible management entity means an organization consisting of diverse stakeholders with technical1 managerial1 and financial capacity to operate and maintain viable decentralized wastewater systems within the jurisdiction of the organization4 7#f7 ,small-capacity cesspool ,the term small-capacity cesspool means an underground sanitary waste system that-- 7,a7 is connected to #a single-family residence and serves no other structures2 and 7,b7 receives only residential sanitary waste4 7b7 ,program 7#a7 ,establishment ,the ,administrator shall establish in the ,environmental ,protection ,agency a program1 to be known as the ,hawaiian ,islands ,program1 to address holistic clean water issues that are distinct due to the unique geographies1 ecosystems1 and climates in the ,state of ,hawaii by providing funding and research assistance4 7#b7 ,location ,the ,program shall have an office in the ,state of ,hawaii4 7#c7 ,director 7,a7 ,appointment ,the ,office shall have a director1 to be appointed by the ,administrator4 7,b7 ,duties ,the ,director shall-- 7i7 conduct or commission studies determined necessary for strengthened implementation of the comprehensive action plan under subsection 7d72 7ii7 coordinate the funding1 research1 and planning programs authorized under this section2 7iii7 develop and implement strategies to increase public education and awareness with respect to the ecological health and water quality conditions of the watersheds and coastal waters in the ,state of ,hawaii2 7iv7 convene the management conference and provide administrative and technical support to that management conference2 7v7 collect and make available to the public 7including on a publicly accessible website7 publications and other information that the management conference determines to be appropriate with respect to the environmental quality of the watersheds and coastal waters of the ,state of ,hawaii2 7vi7 monitor the progress made toward meeting the goals1 actions1 and schedules included in the comprehensive action plan under subsection 7d71 including through the implementation and support of monitoring systems for the ecological health and water quality conditions of the watersheds and coastal waters of the ,state of ,hawaii2 and 7vii7 convene conferences and meetings for legislators from the government of the ,state of ,hawaii1 including subdivisions of the ,state of ,hawaii1 for the purpose of making recommendations for coordinating legislative efforts to facilitate the environmental restoration of the watersheds and coastal waters of the ,state of ,hawaii and the implementation of the comprehensive action plan under subsection 7d74 7#d7 ,staffing ,the ,director may hire such additional personnel as may be necessary to carry out the duties of the ,director under paragraph 7#c74 7c7 ,management conference 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,director shall1 in consultation with the ,state of ,hawaii1 convene a management conference to develop the comprehensive action plan under subsection 7d74 7#b7 ,membership ,the management conference shall be composed of-- 7,a7 ,federal1 ,state1 and local government stakeholders and nonprofit organizations in the ,state of ,hawaii with proven expertise in wastewater and drinking water systems infrastructure1 watershed restoration and aquifer water quality protection1 coastal wetlands research1 and aquatic resource management1 as determined by the ,director1 in consultation with the ,state of ,hawaii2 and 7,b7 stakeholders from ,native ,hawaiian organizations 7as defined in section #fbjg of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #geag77 with proven expertise in relevant traditional ecological knowledge1 as determined by the ,director1 in consultation with the ,state of ,hawaii4 7d7 ,comprehensive action plan 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #c years after the date of enactment of this section1 the management conference shall1 in consultation with the ,state of ,hawaii1 develop a comprehensive action plan that identifies and prioritizes needs for the ,state of ,hawaii1 including-- 7,a7 conversions of small-capacity cesspools1 with a focus on converting small-capacity cesspools that pose the greatest risk to human and environmental health2 7,b7 environmental remediation to restore and improve aquifer water quality and recharge rates of the watersheds and coastal waters of the ,state of ,hawaii1 including with respect to groundwater contamination caused by failing wastewater systems2 and 7,c7 coastal wetlands monitoring1 research1 and management-- 7i7 to reduce pollution and erosion2 7ii7 to conserve native flora and fauna1 including aquatic species1 with a focus on endemic species and the habitats of those flora and fauna2 and 7iii7 to mitigate damage from coastal flooding4 7#b7 ,revision ,the management conference shall revise the comprehensive action plan developed under paragraph 7#a7 not less frequently than once every #e years4 7e7 ,annual priority list ,beginning after the management conference finalizes the first comprehensive action plan under subsection 7d71 the management conference shall annually compile a priority list1 consistent with the comprehensive action plan1 identifying and prioritizing projects1 activities1 and studies to be carried out using amounts made available to carry out this section4 7f7 ,projects1 activities1 and studies ,the ,director may provide funding through cooperative agreements1 grants1 interagency agreements1 contracts1 or other funding mechanisms to ,federal1 ,state1 or local agencies1 special districts1 responsible management entities1 public or nonprofit agencies1 and other public or private entities1 institutions1 and organizations for projects1 activities1 and studies identified on the annual priority list under subsection 7e74 7g7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the ,program #ej1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbh through #bjcb4 7#b7 ,limitation ,of the amounts made available under paragraph 7#a7 each fiscal year1 not more than #d percent may be used for administrative purposes to carry out this section4 4