STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2544

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2281

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2281, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize agencies to bypass the preparation of an environmental assessment and proceed directly to the preparation of an environmental impact statement, or allow an applicant to do the same, if the agency determines that an environmental impact statement is likely to be required for a proposed action.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and BIA Hawaii.  Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that allowing agencies or applicants to bypass the preparation of an environmental assessment in certain situations will improve the efficiency of the environmental review process and expedite the completion of those proposed actions.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2281, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

		____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair