STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1620_______

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.R. No. 225
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, to
which was referred H.R. No. 225 entitled: 

     "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,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this resolution is to encourage more
deliberate discussions on the implications of various bills
relating to environmental assessments (EA) and environmental
impact statements (EIS) by requesting the University of Hawaii's
Environmental Center (EC) to convene an advisory task force over
the interim for this purpose.

     This session, several proposals were introduced that
attempted to remedy various perceived deficiencies in the EA and
EIS requirements and procedures, including proposals to:

     (1)  Repeal the individual actions which trigger the
          preparation of an EA;

     (2)  Extend the time available for public review of and
          comment on EAs and EISs;


 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1620_______
                                 Page 2

 
     (3)  Require EAs and EISs to consider the adverse effects of
          proposed actions on cultural practices; and

     (4)  Require the preparation an an EA for any proposed use
          of land when the use is subject to discretionary
          approval by a state or county agency.

     The findings and recommendations of the advisory task force
are to be submitted to the Legislature prior to the convening of
the Regular Session of 2000.

     The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Land Use Research
Foundation of Hawaii, and Life of the Land testified in support
of this measure.  The Hawaiian Electric Company, and its
subsidiaries, Maui Electric Company and Hawaii Electric Light
Company, supported the intent of this measure, and the EC offered
comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Naming the Department of Health and legislative staff
          to assist the EC in the undertaking; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive revisions for the
          purpose of clarity.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection that is attached
to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and
purpose of H.R. No. 225, as amended herein, and recommends that
it be referred to the Committee on Finance, in the form attached
hereto as H.R. No. 225, H.D. 1.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   HERMINA M. MORITA, Chair