HI SB2245

Amends the definition of "water pollutant" in Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 342D-1 to exclude naturally occurring beach sand sourced from beaches, stream mouths, or channels within the State.

Sand exclusion from water pollutant classification applies only when used on adjoining beaches or littoral cells for beach erosion mitigation, sediment management, beach restoration, erosion control, or dune restoration.

Addresses Hawaii's significant beach loss problem, with 70% of beaches on Kauai, Oahu, and Maui eroding and more than 13 miles of beaches lost to erosion over the past century.

Removes regulatory barriers that previously classified locally sourced beach sand as a water pollutant, which had prevented beneficial use of sediment management techniques like beach-scraping and stream mouth-clearing.

Takes effect July 1, 2016.