HI HB1191

Excludes naturally occurring sand sourced from beaches, stream mouths, or channels in Hawaii from the definition of "water pollutant" under state water quality law.

Sand exclusion applies only when the sand is utilized on adjoining beaches or littoral cells for beach erosion mitigation, sediment management, beach restoration, erosion control, or dune restoration.

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

Removes regulatory barriers that have prevented beneficial sediment management projects by treating locally sourced beach sand as a pollutant under the Clean Water Act.

Takes effect July 1, 2017.