OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY CONTROL

The Office of Environmental Quality Control (OEQC) is one of three entities that were established in 1970 under the Environmental Quality Control Act (codified as Chapter 341, Hawaii Revised Statues) to help stimulate, expand and coordinate efforts to maintain the optimum quality of the State's environment. OEQC's main duty is implementing Chapter 343, HRS Environmental Impact Statement Law. 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.

The Director is tasked with providing advice and assistance regarding Chapter 343 , HRS to private industry, government agencies, and community groups, conducting research, legislative initiatives, public outreach, and recommending programs for the long-range implementation of environmental quality control. At the request of the Governor, the Director is empowered to coordinate and direct State agencies in matters concerning environmental quality. The Director sits as an ex officio voting member on The Environmental Council, The Advisory Committee on Plants and Animals, and The Emergency Response Commission. OEQC staff also provides support to the Environmental Council regarding amendments to the administrative rules and exemption lists, as well as assistance preparing the Council's annual report.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Environmental Council is currently updating the Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) Chapter 11-200, the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Rules. The Draft of Proposed Changes is now open for public review and comment. We strongly encourage all interested parties to submit feedback on the draft. To submit comments we prefer the use of the comment matrix, though traditional forms of submission are also welcome. Please direct any comments or questions to environmental.council@doh.hawaii.gov or call (808)586-4185.

Chapter 343, Hawaii Revised Statues

Also known as the Hawaii Environmental Policy Act (HEPA), Chapter 343 established a system of environmental review to ensure that environmental concerns are given appropriate consideration in decision making along with economic and technical factors. If any proposed project or activity meets one or more of the nine conditions, known as "triggers", then the requirements of Chapter 343 must be addressed. There are three different options for doing so: an exemption declaration, a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) based on a draft and final environmental assesment (EA), or the acceptance of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). If a project is not declared exempt, EAs and/or EISs must be prepared and submitted to the OEQC to be published for public review. To learn more about whether a project needs to undergo an environmental review, please refer to Chapter 343 HRS.

The Environmental Notice

Chapter 343, HRS, directs the OEQC to publish a periodic bulletin, known as The Environmental Notice. This bi-monthly document announces the availability of EAs and EISs for public review. It is published on the eighth and twenty-third day of each month and posted on OEQC's website. Some non-HEPA related documents are also published in The Environmental Notice including Federal consistency reviews, special management area permits, shoreline certifications, federal EAs and EISs compiled in accordance to the National Environmental Policy Act, habitat conservation plans, safe harbor agreements, incidental take licenses per the Federal endangered species act, and other miscellaneous notices are also published for public review. Go to the current issue to view the most recent publication. Additionally, all previous issues of The Environmental Notice are also available.

If you would like to be notified when current editions of The Environmental Notice are published, please email the us at oeqchawaii@doh.hawaii.gov and request to be added to our subscription list.

Guidebook and Toolkit

The Guide to the Implementation and Practice of the Hawaii Environmental Policy Act provides general information about Chapter 343, HRS and the implementing rules of Chapter 11-200, HAR.

The Environmental Assessment Preparation Toolkit contains instructions and forms for submitting documents for publication. 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. Both links contain helpful information for working with and adhering to the Hawaii Environmental Policy Act.

HEPA Online Document Library

Documents published in The Environmental Notice are generally available online. Our Online Library of EAs and EISs is searchable by title of document or by Island map. 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. For NEPA projects filed with the EPA, go to the Federal EIS Database or view the Federal EIS's Currently Open for Public Comment/Review.

Exemptions

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. See also Guidelines for Preparing Exemptions and Exemption Lists by Department.

The Environmental Council

The Environmental Council 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 environmental.council@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.

Related 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: oeqchawaii@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