T his program coordinates Departmental reviews for development projects with potential environmental impacts. It also evaluates mitigating measures in order to implement environmental policies and standards, at the earliest stages of the planning process, for projects statewide. Generally, a land use project is first reviewed by the Environmental Planning Office Manager, then forwarded to the appropriate Environmental Health programs for further review and comments.

Standard comments are provided by most environmental programs, and are intended to help developers to better prepare land use planning documents such as an Environmental Assessment (EA), Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), or permit applications. The Standard comments are meant to provide developers with a full picture of potential comments for their proposed projects.

Standard comments relating to Environmental Health programs are available for review below.

• Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Office
• Clean Air Branch
• Clean Water Branch
• Safe Drinking Water Branch
• Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch
• Wastewater Branch (updated March 2013)
• Indoor and Radiological Health Branch

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All state agencies are guided by two statewide planning documents. The Hawaii State Planning Act is a broad policy document that sets the table for all activities, programs, and decisions made by local and state agencies. The New Day Comprehensive Plan outlines the Administration’s priorities. More information on these documents and other Hawaii planning issues can be found here.

The Office of Environmental Quality Control (OEQC) was established in 1970 to help stimulate, expand and coordinate efforts to maintain the optimum quality of the State’s environment. OEQC implements Chapter 343 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS). The OEQC publishes ‘The Environmental Notice’ which details Environmental Assessments (EA) and Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) under public review. All this and more can be found at the OEQC website.

The DOH Environmental Health Administration (EHA) is an advocate for sustainability. EHA wants to ensure that residents and visitors of Hawaii continue to enjoy the benefits of clean and safe air, water and buildings. EHA references many sustainability sources including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Green Building Council and others.
EHA is guided in part by the EPA’s Clean Water and Drinking Water Infrastructure Sustainability Policy that can be found here.

The U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is redefining the way we think about the places where we live, work and learn. As an internationally recognized mark of excellence, LEED provides building owners and operators with a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations, and maintenance solutions. To find out more visit by clicking here.

Green infrastructure is an approach in which communities choose to use vegetation and soil to manage rainwater where it falls. It provides flood mitigation, stormwater and air management. More information on green infrastructure can be found here.

Other Resources include:

• Smart Growth Principles, US EPA
• Green Building, US EPA
• Hawaii BuiltGreen™, BIA
• Energy Star
• Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, Strategic Industries Division
• Low Impact Development Guide
• Rural Policy & Best Practices Project
• Native Hawaiian Access Rights Project
• Hawaii Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Plan
• A Participant's Guide to the Special Management Area (SMA) Permit Process in the State of Hawaii
• EPA School Siting Guidelines

If you do not have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, you need to install it before you can view and print the downloadable pdf files. The Acrobat Reader is free and can be downloaded to your computer by clicking here:

If you have any questions, please contact:

Last update: 23 May 2013