256
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.C.R. NO.            H.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________


                     HOUSE  CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION

  REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER TO
    CONVENE AN ADVISORY TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE VARIOUS
    PROPOSALS INTRODUCED DURING THE REGULAR SESSION OF 1999,
    TO REMEDY PERCEIVED DEFICIENCIES IN THE REQUIREMENTS AND
    PROCEDURES OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS LAW.



 1        WHEREAS, the requirements and procedures for performing
 2   environmental assessments and environmental impact statements,
 3   which are established in chapter 343, Hawaii Revised Statutes
 4   (environmental impact statements), are essential for preserving
 5   Hawaii's unique natural environment and cultural resources; and
 6   
 7        WHEREAS, several proposals were introduced during the
 8   Regular Session of 1999, which attempted to remedy perceived
 9   deficiencies in these requirements and procedures, including
10   proposals to:
11   
12        (1)  Require the preparation of an environmental
13             assessment for any proposed use of land when the use
14             is subject to discretionary approval by a state or
15             county agency (House Bill No. 207); and repeal the
16             individual actions described in section 343-5(a),
17             Hawaii Revised Statutes, which presently trigger the
18             preparation of an environmental assessment;
19   
20        (2)  Extend the amount of time available for public review
21             of and comment on environmental assessments for which
22             a finding of no significant impact is anticipated;
23             and extend the amount of time available for public
24             review of and comment on environmental impact
25             statements, whether for agency or applicant proposed
26             actions (House Bill No. 942, H.D. 1); and
27   
28        (3)  Require environmental assessments and environmental
29             impact statements to consider the adverse effects of
30             proposed actions on cultural practices within a
31             community and the State (House Bill No. 577, Proposed
32             H.D. 1);
33   
34   and

 
Page 2                                                     256
                                  H.C.R. NO.            H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        


 1        WHEREAS, the Legislature believes that more deliberate
 2   discussions among the interested parties during the interim
 3   period would help the Legislature and these parties to fully
 4   understand the implications of these proposals; and
 5   
 6        WHEREAS, section 341-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires
 7   the University of Hawaii Environmental Center to stimulate,
 8   expand, and coordinate education, research, and service efforts
 9   of the university related to ecological relationships, natural
10   resources, and environmental quality, with special relation to
11   human needs and social institutions, particularly with regard
12   to the State; and
13   
14        WHEREAS, the University of Hawaii Environmental Center has
15   already performed two comprehensive and extremely useful
16   reviews of chapter 343, Hawaii Revised Statutes, involving
17   parties who represent--at times--competing and antagonistic
18   interests with respect to environmental concerns and human
19   impacts on environmental quality; now, therefore,
20   
21        BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
22   Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session
23   of 1999, the Senate concurring, that the University of Hawaii
24   Environmental Center, with assistance from the Department of
25   Health and legislative staff, is requested to convene an
26   advisory task force to study the various proposals introduced
27   during the Regular Session of 1999, to remedy perceived
28   deficiencies in the requirements and procedures of the
29   environmental impact statements law; and
30   
31        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this advisory task force is
32   requested to include representatives from the Office of
33   Environmental Quality Control, the Environmental Council, the
34   Department of Health, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the
35   Hawaiian Homes Commission, the Land Use Research Foundation,
36   the Building Industry Association of Hawaii, environmental
37   organizations, and community groups; county, state, and federal
38   agencies; the Chairperson of the Energy and Environmental
39   Protection Committee of the House of Representatives; the
40   Chairperson of the Labor and Environment Committee of the
41   Senate; and other persons selected at the discretion of the
42   Director of the Environmental Center; and
43   
44        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University of Hawaii
45   Environmental Center is requested to submit its findings and
46   recommendations to the Legislature not less than twenty days
47   prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2000; and

 
Page 3                                                     256
                                  H.C.R. NO.            H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        


 1        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
 2   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the
 3   Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii, the President of
 4   the University of Hawaii, the Director of the Environmental
 5   Center, and the Director of Health.