Statute_requires_EIS_if_public_money

March 14, 2005

Letter to the Editor

Statute requires EIS if public money involved

"Officials with Hawaii Superferry Inc. told lawmakers earlier this year that unless the state funds the harbor upgrades, the project would likely sink" (Star-Bulletin, March 10).

Hawaii Revised Statute 343-5(a) says that "Except as otherwise provided, an environmental assessment shall be required for actions that: (1) Propose the use of state or county lands or the use of state or county funds."

Clearly, this is a different situation than upgrading facilities for transportation companies in existence before the state adopted the EIS law in 1973.

Henry Curtis
Life of the Land
Honolulu

http://starbulletin.com/2005/03/14/editorial/letters.html