Bill aims to revive
environmental cleanup
jobs created after 9/11The task force was created
during the economic slump
An environmental task force originally formed to create jobs in the economic downturn following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks would be brought back and made permanent under a proposal advancing in the Legislature.
The Emergency Environmental Work Force would continue its previous work, which included isolating the spread of dengue fever, eradicating miconia plants and reducing the coqui frog and fire ant populations.
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Funding for the task force -- a product of the 2001 special legislative session following the attacks -- expired last year.
"I think the work force proved to be a great success," said Sen. Russell Kokubun (D, Hilo-Naalehu), one of the bill's sponsors. "All we're trying to do with this bill is to establish it in statute so that it is something that is going to be permanently established."
Lawmakers are working out final details, including the task force's exact duties and how much funding it would receive, in a joint House-Senate conference committee.
In addition to eradicating existing invasive species, the new task force also would address preventive steps to take against the introduction of new alien species to Hawaii.
"There's no doubt that we need to continue to work on the invasive species issue here," Kokubun said.
Lawmakers appropriated $4 million to combat invasive species in the $3.8 billion supplemental budget approved and sent to Gov. Linda Lingle last week.
If approved, some of those funds could be used to fund the task force, Kokubun said.
The new task force would begin its work in July.
The Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii would be charged with carrying out the task force's mission. The 2001 special session appropriated $1.5 million to the research branch for the task force.
