STAND. COM. REP. 472

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.B. No. 471

H.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 471, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to require an environmental assessment for proposed wastewater facilities, waste-to-energy facilities, landfills, oil refineries, and power-generating facilities.

The Office of Environmental Quality Control and the Board of Water Supply submitted testimony in support of this measure.

Your Committee finds that under existing law, wastewater facilities, waste-to-energy facilities, landfills, oil refineries, and power-generating facilities may be constructed without complete environmental studies or adequate community input. Your Committee further finds that requiring an environmental assessment for these facilities would ensure that decision-makers have the proper information about environmental, social, cultural, and economic consequences before approving construction.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 471, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce,

 

____________________________

KENNETH T. HIRAKI, Chair