Harrison, John

Miller, Jacquelin N.

Rappa, Peter

ScholarSpace at University of Hawai'i at Manoa

... -.University of Hawaii at ManoaEnvironmental CenterA Unit of Water Resources Research CenterCrawford 317.2550 Campus RoadHonolulu, Hawaii 96822Telephone (808) 956-7361 RL: 0983HB 1815MAKING AND APPROPRIATION FOR ANENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT DATABASEStatement forSenate committee onAgriculture and Environmental ProtectionPublic Hearing - March 19, 1991ByJacquelin Miller, Environmental CenterJohn Harrison, Environmental CenterPeter Rappa, Sea Grant and Environmental CenterHB 1815 would appropriate funds to the Office of Environmental QualityControl to support the incorporation of information from 4000 EnvironmentalAssessments/Negative Declarations into the Hawaii Environmental Impactstatement Bililicx3-raphic Database being developed by the Environmental Centerof the University of Hawaii.Since 1975, under HRS 343-5, and the EIS rules 11-200-12, certainactions have been subject to "Environmental Assessment" to determine if theaction proposed may have a significant effect on the environment. If itmay, then an Environmental Impact Statement preparation notice is filed andan EIS is prepared. If no significant effect is likely to occur, then a"Negative Declaration" is issued. For the vast majority of actions(approximately 90 percent), the Environmental Assessment leads to a NegativeDeclaration. The information contained in these assessments is not widelydisseminated and specific studies that have been undertaken as part of theEA process are not readily available. Thus, it is difficult to make use ofthe information contained in these EA's for subsequent environmentalevaluations. Such information would be of value to state or countyplanners, agencies, departments, consultants, or the pub.Lie in connectionwith either the preparation or review of environmental documents.Because the Environmental Center of the University of Hawaii iscurrently deVeloping such a data base for information contained inEnvironmental Impact Statements, with the support of the Office ofEnvironmental Quality Control, the addition of related information fromEnvironmental Assessments, as is provided by HB 1815, would complete theinventory/database of environmental information gathered in compliance withHRS 343. We appreciate the support of the legislature and OEQC in theseprojects.AN EOUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

HB 1815, Making an Appropriation for an Environmental Assessment Database - Statement for Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environmental Protection, Public Hearing - March 19, 1991

http://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/10125/27227/1/RL0983.PDF

HB 1815, Making an Appropriation for an Environmental Assessment Database - Statement for Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environmental Protection, Public Hearing - March 19, 1991

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