OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY CONTROL

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 Ch. 343, HRS Environmental Impact Statements. Office planners review and comment on hundreds of environmental disclosure documents each year. Twice a month, OEQC publishes The Environmental Notice which announces the availability of Environmental Assessments (EA) and Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) under public review. OEQC staff also provides support to the Environmental Council regarding amendments to the administrative rules and exemption lists, and the Council's annual report.

The Director is also tasked with providing advice and assistance to private industry, government agencies, and community groups regarding Ch. 343, HRS; conducting research; legislative initiatives; recommending programs for the long-range implementation of environmental quality control; and public outreach. The Director is an ex-officio voting member of the Advisory Commission on Plants and Animals with the Department of Agriculture; the Hawaii State Emergency Response Commission with the Department of Health; and the Environmental Council, also with the Department of Health. At the request of the Governor, the Director of OEQC is empowered to coordinate and direct State agencies in matters concerning environmental quality.

The Environmental Notice

The Environmental Notice announces the availability of EA's and EIS's for public review. It is published on the 8th and 23rd of each month on OEQC's website. Federal consistency reviews, special management area permits, shoreline certifications, federal EA's and EIS's, habitat conservation plans, safe harbor agreements, incidental take licenses per the federal endangered species act, and other notices are also published for public review. Go to the current issue to view the most recent documents under public review. Previous issues of The Environmental Notice are also available.

To get on our email list and receive notification when the current edition of the Notice is posted, send OEQC an email.

Other useful links include our Environmental Assessment Preparation Toolkit. This toolkit contains the OEQC publication form, deadline calendar, checklists, sample cover letters, distribution lists, cultural assessment provider lists, and a map of the island districts.

Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements

For any proposed project or activity, if one or more of nine conditions (called "triggers") is present, then an EA or an EIS must be prepared and circulated to the public for review. To find out if a project needs to undergo an environmental review, read Chapter 343-5, HRS. Our online library of EA's and EIS's are searchable by Title of Document or search by Island Maps. EA's and EIS's are also available at your local library. Documents from the 1970's may be on our online library or at the State Archives located on the grounds of Iolani Palace. Please check the Archives directly for availability. For NEPA projects filed with the EPA go to the Federal EIS Database. Or go to the federal EIS's With Open Comment-Wait Period.

When are projects exempt from public review?

Certain activities, deemed minor or routine by State or County agencies, may be declared exempt from environmental review. There are 11 classes of exempt actions under 11-200-08, HAR and one exempt class of action under 183B-2, HRS. See also Guidelines for Preparing Exemptions and Exemption Lists by Department. The exempt classes of actions are summarized as follows:

The Environmental Council

The consists of up to fifteen members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control serves as an ex-officio voting member of the Council. The Council serves as a liaison between the Director and the public on matters concerning ecology and environmental quality. The members are appointed to assure a broad and balanced representation of educational, business, and environmentally relevant disciplines and professions, such as natural and social sciences, humanities, architecture, engineering, public health, and planning; educational and research institutions with environmental competence; agriculture, real estate, visitor industry, construction, media, and voluntary community and environmental groups, and environmental consulting. The Council is attached to the Department of Health for administrative purposes. Members elect their own Chairperson. You may contact any council member at oeqc@doh.hawaii.gov or write to the Office of Environmental Quality Control, 235 South Beretania Street, Suite 702, Honolulu, HI 96813.

Links to the agenda, annual reports, minutes, exemption lists by department, and guidelines for preparing exemptions.

Administrative Rules and Statutes

Ch. 341, HRS Environmental Quality Control

Ch. 343, HRS Environmental Impact Statements

Ch. 353-16.35, HRS Development or expansion of in-state correctional facilities (60-day comment period for DEA or DEIS)

Ch. 11-200, HAR Environmental Impact Statement Rules

Ch. 11-200-8(11), HAR Exempt classes of action for the acquisition of land (amended 12-05-2007)

Ch. 11-201, HAR Environmental Council Rules of Practice and Procedure

Miscellaneous Documents

Links to various other documents related to OEQC.

Weblinks

Coastal Zone Management Program Provides a description of the Hawaii Coastal Zone Management Program. Discusses the linkages between the Federal, State, and County governments, Hawaii's land use and environmental management system, and the special components of the Hawaii Coastal Zone Management Program.

Environmental Protection Agency The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human health and the environment.

Green Building Council The U.S. Green Building Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community of leaders working to make green buildings available to everyone within a generation.

Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative The Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative aims to transform Hawaii into a world model for energy independence and sustainability. Its goal is to meet 70% of Hawaii's energy needs with clean energy by 2030.

Hawaii State Library Hardcopies of EA's and EIS's are available for review.

International Association for Impact Assessment The IAIA is a forum for advancing innovation, development, and communication of best practice in impact assessment.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to integrate environmental values into their decision making processes by considering the environmental impacts of their proposed actions and reasonable alternatives to those actions. The site includes a Federal EIS Database.

President's Council on Environmental Quality The Council on Environmental Quality coordinates federal environmental efforts and works closely with agencies and other White House offices in the development of environmental policies and initiatives.

University of Hawaii Environmental Center Dedicated to the advancement of environmental management through education, research and service.

For more information, please contact:

Office of Environmental Quality Control
235 South Beretania Street, Suite 702
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Ph. 586-4185
Fax. 586-4186
Email: oeqc@doh.hawaii.gov

For neighbor islands, please call toll free:
Kauai: 274-3141 ext. 64185
Molokai/Lanai:1-800-468-4644 ext. 64185
Maui: 984-2400 ext. 64185
Hawaii: 974-4000 ext. 64185