STAND. COM. REP. NO. 703

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: S.B. No. 1298

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1298 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to include within an environmental impact statement a determination as to whether a 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 measure was submitted by the University of Hawaii Environmental Center, Life of the Land and two individuals. Offering comments on the measure was the Office of Environmental Quality Control.

Your Committee finds that information on whether a racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, or other group will bear a disproportionate burden of any negative environmental impacts of a proposed action will guide policymakers, including the executive branch, in ensuring environmental equality among all groups. A suggestion that the Governor issue an executive order implementing the guidelines and principles of environmental equality to avoid the protracted process of rule making under chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is worthy of additional attention and study. Your Committee will be considering a resolution requesting the Governor to examine the feasibility of implementing guidelines and principles of environmental equality by an executive order.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian 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 Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

COLLEEN HANABUSA, Chair