STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1657-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.R. No. 82

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.R. No. 82 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF PLANNING AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT'S ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROGRAM TO FORM A TASK FORCE TO RECOMMEND USER-FRIENDLY IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PROGRAM'S WEBSITE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development's Environmental Review Program to form a task force to recommend user-friendly improvements to the Program's website.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development.

Your Committee finds that although the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development's Environmental Review Program maintains a website that informs the public of pending environmental impact statements and environmental assessments, the website is not user-friendly, making the information difficult to access. A well-organized and searchable database of environmental assessments and environmental impact statements and other user-friendly features will encourage public participation in the environmental review process and increase transparency and accountability.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 82 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair