HB2624 SD1

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the State's environmental review process was incorporated into the planning processes of the State and counties to balance environmental concerns with technical considerations and economic goals. The legislature further finds that the State, stakeholders, and the public all benefit from public participation and transparency in the environmental review process.

However, the legislature recognizes that the public is often unaware of a pending project until a determination is made regarding an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement, at which point the opportunity for public comment has passed. Supporting public participation in projects prior to acceptance of an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement will foster greater awareness of and participation in the environmental review process.

The legislature also finds that although the office of environmental quality control currently has a website that provides information to the public, the information provided on the site is not user-friendly. Information is difficult to locate and the site does not highlight pending environmental assessments or environmental impact statements that are currently open for public comments.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the office of environmental quality control to establish, implement, and maintain an interactive website that is accessible by the public at no cost and provides notification of and opportunity for participation in actions taken pursuant to the State's environmental review process.

SECTION 2. Section 343-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§343-3 Public records and notice[.]; office website. (a) All statements, environmental assessments, and other documents prepared under this chapter shall be made available for inspection by the public during established office hours.

(b) The office shall inform the public of notices filed by agencies of the availability of environmental assessments for review and comments, of determinations that statements are required or not required, of the availability of statements for review and comments, and of the acceptance or nonacceptance of statements.

(1) A public comment process or public hearing if a federal agency provides for the public comment process or public hearing to process a habitat conservation plan, safe harbor agreement, or incidental take license pursuant to the federal Endangered Species Act;

(2) A proposed habitat conservation plan or proposed safe harbor agreement, and availability for inspection of the proposed agreement, plan, and application to enter into a planning process for the preparation and implementation of the habitat conservation plan for public review and comment;

(3) A proposed incidental take license as part of a habitat conservation plan or safe harbor agreement; and

(4) An application for the registration of land by accretion pursuant to section 501-33 or 669-1(e) for any land accreted along the ocean.

(d) The office shall inform the public by the publication of a periodic bulletin to be available to persons requesting this information. The bulletin shall be available through the office [~~and~~], public libraries[.], and on the office's website.

(e) The office shall establish, implement, and maintain an interactive website that shall be accessible by the public at no cost. The website shall:

(1) Allow the public to register for notifications regarding any action initiated pursuant to this chapter, including notification of:

(A) The receipt of any documents or filings relating to any action initiated pursuant to this chapter;

(B) Any upcoming hearing, including information regarding the hearing date, time, and location;

(C) The opportunity to submit public comments regarding any draft statement submitted to the office by an applicant, provided that this notification shall include a link to provide comments online;

(D) The submission of a final statement to the office by an applicant, provided that this notification shall include a hyperlink to the text of any final statement submitted;

(E) Acceptance or nonacceptance by an agency of a final statement made pursuant to section 343-5;

(F) Any appeal of nonacceptance filed by an applicant;

(G) Any determination of an appeal of nonacceptance made by the council;

(H) Any updates to the relevant statutes, rules, or policies relating to the environmental review process; and

(I) Any other aspect of any action or the environmental review process as deemed appropriate by the office and stakeholders;

(2) Make available and searchable any document or filing received pursuant to this chapter, including reports and testimony;

(3) Allow the public to comment on any draft statement during the comment period required by section 343-5;

(4) Compile and make available all state and county environmental impact statements and environmental assessments; and

(5) Include any additional feature as determined by the office in consultation with its stakeholders."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the purpose of establishing, implementing, and maintaining an interactive website pursuant to this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act; provided that no funds shall be released until after the office of environmental quality control consults its stakeholders regarding the establishment of an interactive website pursuant to this Act.

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2624
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 1