STAND. COM. REP. NO.1219-02
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2002
RE: S.B. No. 2505
S.D. 1
H.D. 2
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2002
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2505, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to strengthen the process for preparing environmental assessments (EAs) and environmental impact statements (EISs) by:
(1) Addressing an apparent conflict of interest when an agency makes a determination whether its proposed action requires an EIS. This bill authorizes the Office of Environmental Quality Control (OEQC) to review the determination, consult with the agency, and make a final determination; and
(2) Requiring the preparation of EAs for actions that propose any wastewater facility, waste-to-energy facility, landfill, oil refinery, or power-generating facility.
OEQC and Hawaii's Thousand Friends testified in support of this measure. Covanta Energy Group offered comments. The City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting opposed this measure.
Your Committee finds that there is a need to address the apparent conflict of interest. However, there are also legitimate concerns regarding the increased State oversight of county functions that this bill creates.
Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill by inserting an effective date of June 30, 2020, for the purpose of continued discussion.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2505, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2505, S.D. 1, H.D. 2.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,
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____________________________ DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair |
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