STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2060

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 2971
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Labor and Environment, to which was
referred S.B. No. 2971 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
     STATEMENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to require environmental impact
statements to disclose effects on the cultural practices of the
community and the State.  

     This bill also amends the definition of "significant effect"
to include adverse effects on cultural practices.

     Testimony in favor of the measure was received from the
Office of Environmental Quality Control, Office of Hawaiian
Affairs, Environmental Center, Sierra Club, and Hawaii's Thousand
Friends.  Testimony in opposition to the measure was received
from the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

     Your Committee recognizes that protection of cultural
practices is equally important as the environmental, social, and
economic welfare in Hawaii.  Requiring cultural impact
information in assessments and amending "significant effect" to
include the adverse effect on cultural practices will allow for
more informed and better decisions on land uses that affect both
natural and cultural resources.  Your Committee is in agreement
that this measure will promote and protect cultural beliefs,

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2060
                                   Page 2


practices, and resources of native Hawaiians as well as other
ethnic groups.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Labor and Environment that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of S.B. No. 2971 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and
be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Labor and
                                   Environment,



                                   ______________________________
                                   BOB NAKATA, Chair

 
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