Bill Text: HI HB545 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Environmental Impact Statements; Environmental Assessments; Supplements
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-05-11 - Carried over to 2010 Regular Session. [HB545 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2010-HB545-Introduced.html
Report Title:
Environmental Impact Statements; Environmental Assessments; Supplements
Description:
Requires a supplemental environmental assessment or supplemental environmental impact statement after the passage of 15 years from the date of the acceptance of the statement or the determination of a finding of no significant impact, if the proposed action is not completed.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
545 |
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TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to the environmental impact statement law.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Section 343-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§343-5 Applicability and requirements. (a) Except as otherwise provided, an environmental assessment shall be required for actions that:
(1) Propose the use of state or county lands or the
use of state or county funds, other than funds to be used for feasibility or
planning studies for possible future programs or projects that the agency has
not approved, adopted, or funded, or funds to be used for the acquisition of
unimproved real property; provided that the agency shall consider environmental
factors and available alternatives in its feasibility or planning studies; provided
further that an environmental assessment for proposed uses under section [[]205-2(d)(10)[]]
or [[]205-4.5(a)(13)[]] shall only be required pursuant to
section 205-5(b);
(2) Propose any use within any land classified as a conservation district by the state land use commission under chapter 205;
(3) Propose any use within a shoreline area as defined in section 205A-41;
(4) Propose any use within any historic site as
designated in the [National Register or Hawaii Register,] National
Register of Historic Places or the Hawaii register of historic places, as
provided for in the Historic Preservation Act of 1966, Public Law 89-665, or
chapter 6E;
(5) Propose any use within the Waikiki area of Oahu, the boundaries of which are delineated in the land use ordinance as amended, establishing the "Waikiki Special District";
(6) Propose any amendments to existing county general plans where the amendment would result in designations other than agriculture, conservation, or preservation, except actions proposing any new county general plan or amendments to any existing county general plan initiated by a county;
(7) Propose any reclassification of any land classified as a conservation district by the state land use commission under chapter 205;
(8) Propose the construction of new or the expansion or modification of existing helicopter facilities within the State, that by way of their activities, may affect:
(A) Any land classified as a conservation district by the state land use commission under chapter 205;
(B) A shoreline area as defined in section 205A-41; or
(C) Any historic site as designated in the [National
Register or Hawaii Register,] National Register of Historic Places or
the Hawaii register of historic places, as provided for in the Historic
Preservation Act of 1966, Public Law 89-665, or chapter 6E; or until the
statewide historic places inventory is completed, any historic site that is
found by a field reconnaissance of the area affected by the helicopter facility
and is under consideration for placement on the [National Register or the
Hawaii Register of Historic Places;] National Register of Historic
Places or the Hawaii register of historic places; and
(9) Propose any:
(A) Wastewater treatment unit, except an individual wastewater system or a wastewater treatment unit serving fewer than fifty single-family dwellings or the equivalent;
(B) Waste-to-energy facility;
(C) Landfill;
(D) Oil refinery; or
(E) Power-generating facility.
(b) Whenever an agency proposes an action in
subsection (a), other than feasibility or planning studies for possible future
programs or projects that the agency has not approved, adopted, or funded, or
other than the use of state or county funds for the acquisition of unimproved
real property that is not a specific type of action declared exempt under
section 343‑6, the agency shall prepare an environmental assessment for [such]
the action at the earliest practicable time to determine whether an
environmental impact statement shall be required.
(1) For environmental assessments for which a finding of no significant impact is anticipated:
(A) A draft environmental assessment shall be made available for public review and comment for a period of thirty days;
(B) The office shall inform the public of the availability of the draft environmental assessment for public review and comment pursuant to section 343-3;
(C) The agency shall respond in writing to comments received during the review and prepare a final environmental assessment to determine whether an environmental impact statement shall be required;
(D) A statement shall be required if the agency finds that the proposed action may have a significant effect on the environment; and
(E) The agency shall file notice of [such]
the determination with the office. When a conflict of interest may
exist because the proposing agency and the agency making the determination are
the same, the office may review the agency's determination, consult the agency,
and advise the agency of potential conflicts, to comply with this section. The
office shall publish the final determination for the public's information
pursuant to section 343-3.
The draft and final statements, if required, shall be prepared by the agency and submitted to the office. The draft statement shall be made available for public review and comment through the office for a period of forty-five days. The office shall inform the public of the availability of the draft statement for public review and comment pursuant to section 343‑3. The agency shall respond in writing to comments received during the review and prepare a final statement.
The office, when requested by the agency, may make a recommendation as to the acceptability of the final statement.
(2) The final authority to accept a final statement shall rest with:
(A) The governor, or the governor's authorized representative, whenever an action proposes the use of state lands or the use of state funds, or whenever a state agency proposes an action within the categories in subsection (a); or
(B) The mayor, or the mayor's authorized representative, of the respective county whenever an action proposes only the use of county lands or county funds.
Acceptance of a required final statement shall
be a condition precedent to implementation of the proposed action. Upon
acceptance or nonacceptance of the final statement, the governor or mayor, or
the governor's or mayor's authorized representative, shall file notice of [such]
the determination with the office. The office, in turn, shall publish
the determination of acceptance or nonacceptance pursuant to section 343-3.
(c) Whenever an applicant proposes an action specified by subsection (a) that requires approval of an agency and that is not a specific type of action declared exempt under section 343-6, the agency initially receiving and agreeing to process the request for approval shall prepare an environmental assessment of the proposed action at the earliest practicable time to determine whether an environmental impact statement shall be required; provided that, for an action that proposes the establishment of a renewable energy facility, a draft environmental impact statement shall be prepared at the earliest practicable time. The final approving agency for the request for approval is not required to be the accepting authority.
For environmental assessments for which a finding of no significant impact is anticipated:
(1) A draft environmental assessment shall be made available for public review and comment for a period of thirty days;
(2) The office shall inform the public of the availability of the draft environmental assessment for public review and comment pursuant to section 343-3; and
(3) The applicant shall respond in writing to comments received during the review, and the agency shall prepare a final environmental assessment to determine whether an environmental impact statement shall be required. A statement shall be required if the agency finds that the proposed action may have a significant effect on the environment. The agency shall file notice of the agency's determination with the office, which, in turn, shall publish the agency's determination for the public's information pursuant to section 343-3.
The draft and final statements, if required, shall be prepared by the applicant, who shall file these statements with the office.
The draft statement shall be made available for public review and comment through the office for a period of forty-five days. The office shall inform the public of the availability of the draft statement for public review and comment pursuant to section 343-3.
The applicant shall respond in writing to comments received during the review and prepare a final statement. The office, when requested by the applicant or agency, may make a recommendation as to the acceptability of the final statement.
The authority to accept a final statement shall rest with the agency initially receiving and agreeing to process the request for approval. The final decision-making body or approving agency for the request for approval is not required to be the accepting authority. The planning department for the county in which the proposed action will occur shall be a permissible accepting authority for the final statement.
Acceptance of a required final statement shall
be a condition precedent to approval of the request and commencement of the
proposed action. Upon acceptance or nonacceptance of the final statement, the
agency shall file notice of [such] the determination with the
office. The office, in turn, shall publish the determination of acceptance or
nonacceptance of the final statement pursuant to section 343-3.
The agency receiving the request, within thirty days of receipt of the final statement, shall notify the applicant and the office of the acceptance or nonacceptance of the final statement. The final statement shall be deemed to be accepted if the agency fails to accept or not accept the final statement within thirty days after receipt of the final statement; provided that the thirty-day period may be extended at the request of the applicant for a period not to exceed fifteen days.
In any acceptance or nonacceptance, the agency shall provide the applicant with the specific findings and reasons for its determination. An applicant, within sixty days after nonacceptance of a final statement by an agency, may appeal the nonacceptance to the environmental council, which, within thirty days of receipt of the appeal, shall notify the applicant of the council's determination. In any affirmation or reversal of an appealed nonacceptance, the council shall provide the applicant and agency with specific findings and reasons for its determination. The agency shall abide by the council's decision.
(d) Whenever an applicant requests approval for a proposed action and there is a question as to which of two or more state or county agencies with jurisdiction has the responsibility of preparing the environmental assessment, the office, after consultation with and assistance from the affected state or county agencies, shall determine which agency shall prepare the assessment.
(e) In preparing an environmental assessment, an agency may consider and, where applicable and appropriate, incorporate by reference, in whole or in part, previous determinations of whether a statement is required and previously accepted statements. The council, by rule, shall establish criteria and procedures for the use of previous determinations and statements.
(f) Whenever an action is subject to both the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Public Law 91-190) and the requirements of this chapter, the office and agencies shall cooperate with federal agencies to the fullest extent possible to reduce duplication between federal and state requirements. Such cooperation, to the fullest extent possible, shall include joint environmental impact statements with concurrent public review and processing at both levels of government. Where federal law has environmental impact statement requirements in addition to but not in conflict with this chapter, the office and agencies shall cooperate in fulfilling these requirements so that one document shall comply with all applicable laws.
(g) A statement that is accepted with respect to a particular action shall satisfy the requirements of this chapter, and no other statement for the proposed action shall be required.
(h) Notwithstanding anything in this chapter to the contrary, if an action has not been implemented or completed, within fifteen years of the date of:
(1) The determination of a finding of no significant impact, the agency that prepared the environmental assessment shall prepare a supplemental environmental assessment; and
(2) The acceptance of an environmental impact statement, the accepting authority shall require the preparation of a supplemental environmental impact statement.
(i) When a supplemental environmental assessment or environmental impact statement is required pursuant to subsection (h):
(1) The supplemental document shall comply with all the requirements of this chapter, including review and filing deadlines, and rules adopted pursuant to section 343-6 as of the date of the determination that a supplemental document is required; and
(2) The subsequent determination of a finding of no significant impact, acceptance of the supplemental environmental impact statement, or the declaration that the action is exempt under section 343-6 shall be a condition precedent to the implementation or completion of the proposed action."
SECTION 2. Section 343-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
"(a) After consultation with the affected agencies, the council shall adopt, amend, or repeal necessary rules for the purposes of this chapter in accordance with chapter 91 including, but not limited to, rules that shall:
(1) Prescribe the procedures whereby a group of proposed actions may be treated by a single environmental assessment or statement;
(2) Establish procedures whereby specific types of actions, because they will probably have minimal or no significant effects on the environment, are declared exempt from the preparation of an environmental assessment;
(3) Prescribe procedures for the preparation of an environmental assessment;
(4) Prescribe the contents of an environmental assessment;
(5) Prescribe procedures for informing the public of determinations that a statement is either required or not required, for informing the public of the availability of draft environmental impact statements for review and comments, and for informing the public of the acceptance or nonacceptance of the final environmental statement;
(6) Prescribe the contents of an environmental impact statement;
(7) Prescribe procedures for the submission, distribution, review, acceptance or nonacceptance, and withdrawal of an environmental impact statement;
(8) Establish criteria to determine whether an
environmental impact statement is acceptable or not; [and]
(9) Prescribe procedures and criteria, as necessary, relating to supplemental environmental assessments and environmental impact statements; and
[(9)] (10) Prescribe procedures to appeal
the nonacceptance of an environmental impact statement to the environmental
council."
SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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