From: Judy Dalton <dalton@aloha.net>
Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008 03:09:56 -1000
Subject: URGENT! BILL TO WEAKEN EIS LAW! PLEASE ACT NOW!
To: Judy Dalton <dalton@aloha.net>
URGENT & EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!
Sorry , but just got notice of this Hawaii State Legislative hearing
to be held at 10am this (Thursday) morning. PLEASE send a quick note
with talking points below with the message to VOTE NO on SB2808 SD1.
This bill proposes to take the teeth out of the EIS law - HRS Chapter 343!
* Please vote NO onSB 2808 SD1.
* SB 2808 SD1 undermines our three-decade old environmental
review law by creating a new type of exemption.
* The measure is unnecessary, as the Department of Transportation
already has the authority to exempt projects from environmental
review if they are truly minor.
* The public's right to learn about and comment on the
environmental impacts of potentially damaging projects will be curtailed.
* For certain projects, decision makers will not have the benefit
of an environmental review in deciding whether to grant permits.
* Keeping SB 2808 alive--even with a defective date and other
"safeguards"--only allows for legislative game playing later.
Senators will have no guarantees that the final bill will be in a
form they agree with.
* No changes should be made to our environmental review law until
the comprehensive review of the law is complete. To do otherwise
risks a piecemeal approach that will create more problems than it solves.
* With all the discussion of sustainability by the Senate,
reducing environmental review oversight is a big step in the wrong direction.
Please contact Committee members on list below, or if you're in a hurry
<mailto:sentaniguchi@Capitol.hawaii.gov,senhee@Capitol.hawaii.gov,sengabbard@capitol.hawaii.gov,senkokubun@Capitol.hawaii.gov,sennishihara@Capitol.hawaii.gov>click
here for an email addressed to all committee members in one letter.
Name Phone Email
Chair Brian Taniguchi 586-6460
<mailto:sentaniguchi@Capitol.hawaii.gov>sentaniguchi@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Vice Chair Clayton Hee 586-7330
<mailto:senhee@Capitol.hawaii.gov>senhee@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Sen. Mike Gabbard 586-6830
<mailto:sengabbard@capitol.hawaii.gov>sengabbard@capitol.hawaii.gov
Sen. Russell Kokubun 586-6760
<mailto:senkokubun@Capitol.hawaii.gov>senkokubun@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Sen. Clarence Nishihara 586-6970
<mailto:sennishihara@Capitol.hawaii.gov>sennishihara@Capitol.hawaii.gov
This bill to gut HRS 343 is moving in the senate and appears to be
poised to pass out of the (final) Judiciary committee tomorrow. See
hearing notice below.
THE SENATE
THE TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE
REGULAR SESSION OF 2008
COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY AND LABOR
Senator Brian T. Taniguchi, Chair
Senator Clayton Hee, Vice Chair
NOTICE OF DECISION MAKING
DATE: Thursday, February 28, 2008
TIME:10:00 a.m.
PLACE:
Conference Room 016
State Capitol
415 South Beretania Street
PBS, JDL
<http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2008/Bills/SB2808_SD1_.pdf>SB 2808, SD1
<http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2008/CommReports/SB2808_SD1_SSCR2519_.pdf>(SSCR2519)
<http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/docs/getstatus.asp?query=SB2808&currpage=1&showtestimony=on>Testimony
<http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2008/lists/getstatus2.asp?billno=SB2808>Status
RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS.
Exempts from environmental assessments, state or county lands that
include the use of existing streets, roads, highways, or trails or
bikeways for limited purposes, or a modification or disposal of
highway access rights or use, occupancy, or work within a public
highway right-of-way to serve private development outside the highway
right-of-way, under certain conditions. (SD1)
ENE/TIA, JDL
--
John Tyler
toll free 866-530-4117
See
www.jtacpr.com for CPR and First Aid training
www.happyswimmers.com for swim lessons at home and lifeguarding
enrollment/booking link: http://happyswimmers.com/enrollform.html
Serving Los Angeles, San Jose, and Hawai'i Founded in 1991
--
John Tyler
toll free 866-530-4117
See
www.jtacpr.com for CPR and First Aid training
www.happyswimmers.com for swim lessons at home and lifeguarding
enrollment/booking link: http://happyswimmers.com/enrollform.html
Serving Los Angeles, San Jose, and Hawai'i Founded in 1991
