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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.R. NO.              H.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                     HOUSE  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);

 
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                                  H.R. NO.              H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        


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

 
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                                  H.R. NO.              H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        


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