REPORT TITLE:
Environmental Impact


DESCRIPTION:
Amends the environmental impact statement law to add a new
definition of "project" to mean any specific undertaking
involving the development of land or water, including the
construction, improvement, installation, and maintenance of
buildings, infrastructure, or other improvements or structures.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        3010
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO DEVELOPMENT.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that chapter 343, Hawaii
 
 2 Revised Statutes, was intended to ensure that as growth and
 
 3 development occurred, the environment received equal
 
 4 consideration in assessing the appropriateness of a development
 
 5 project in addition to the analysis of the economic impact of the
 
 6 proposed development.  This analysis was to be implicated
 
 7 whenever public funds or public lands were to be used for any
 
 8 such development.  It has come to the attention of the
 
 9 legislature that there are those who view this law as requiring
 
10 the environmental review process for any type of governmental
 
11 activity unless the affected agency obtains an exemption from the
 
12 requirements of chapter 343.  It was not the intent of the
 
13 legislature in enacting chapter 343 to require this review for
 
14 all government programs or initiatives but only those which might
 
15 have a tangible, measurable impact on the natural environment of
 
16 this State.
 
17      SECTION 2.  Section 343-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
18 amended by adding a new definition to be appropriately inserted
 
19 and to read as follows:
 

 
Page 2                                                     3010
                                     H.B. NO.           
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      ""Project" means any specific undertaking involving the
 
 2 development or use of land or water, including without limitation
 
 3 the construction, rehabilitation, improvement, alteration,
 
 4 installation, maintenance, repair, and replacement of buildings,
 
 5 infrastructure, or other improvements or structures."
 
 6      SECTION 3.  Section 343-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
 7 amended by amending the definition of "action" to read as
 
 8 follows:
 
 9      ""Action" means any [program or] project to be initiated by
 
10 any agency or applicant."
 
11      SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed.
 
12 New statutory material is underscored.
 
13      SECTION 5.  This Act, upon its approval, shall take effect
 
14 retroactive to September 1, 1999.
 
15 
 
16                           INTRODUCED BY:_________________________