Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy, Environment, and International Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1298 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to include in an environmental impact statement a determination of whether any racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, or other group will bear a disproportionate burden of any negative environmental impacts of a proposed action.

Testimony in support of the bill was provided by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Life of the Land, and one individual. A representative of the Office of Environmental Quality Control provided comments. An associate specialist from the University of Hawaii Environmental Center, speaking in an individual capacity, testified in opposition to the measure.

Your Committee finds that information on whether development activities negatively and disproportionately impact any racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic group is necessary to guide policymakers and the executive branch in providing environmental equality to all citizens.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy, Environment, and International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1298 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.