THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1055

THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to amend the environmental impact statement law to exempt secondary actions that are limited to infrastructure improvements ancillary to the primary action from the need to comply with the environmental impact assessment requirements of chapter 343, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     SECTION 2.  Section 343-5.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

     "[[]§343-5.5[]]  Exception to applicability of chapter.  (a) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, for any primary action that requires a permit or approval [that is not subject to a discretionary consent and] that involves a secondary action that is ancillary and limited to the installation, improvement, renovation, construction, or development of infrastructure within an existing public right-of-way or highway, that secondary action shall be exempt from this chapter[; provided that the applicant for the primary action shall submit documentation from the appropriate agency confirming that no further discretionary approvals are required.

     (b)  As used in this section:

     "Discretionary consent" means:

     (1)  An action as defined in section 343-2; or

     (2)  An approval from a decision-making authority in an agency, which approval is subject to a public hearing.]

     "Infrastructure" includes waterlines and water facilities, wastewater lines and wastewater facilities, gas lines and gas facilities, drainage facilities, electrical, communications, telephone, and cable television utilities, and highway, roadway, and driveway improvements.

     "Primary action" means an action outside of the highway or public right-of-way that is on private property.

     "Secondary action" means an action involving infrastructure within the highway or public right-of-way.

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

BY REQUEST


 


 

Report Title:

Environmental Impact Statements

 

Description:

Amends the environmental impact statement law to delete reference to discretionary permits in allowing infrastructure improvements within a highway or public right-of-way to be exempt from environmental assessment requirements.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.