Bill > HB1476

This bill requires a comprehensive environmental impact statement (EIS) and mandatory consultation with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) for any spacecraft launch or reentry into Hawaii's state waters or the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. The proposed legislation specifically targets SpaceX's rocket launch and landing plans, which have previously undergone limited environmental assessments. The bill amends Hawaii's existing environmental review statutes to add a tenth category of actions requiring an environmental assessment, with spacecraft launches and reentries being automatically presumed to have a significant environmental impact. This means that instead of a preliminary environmental assessment, these proposed actions will need to proceed directly to drafting a full environmental impact statement. The bill's context is rooted in concerns about potential environmental and cultural risks, including the possibility of rocket debris, marine life disruption, and insufficient previous evaluations of SpaceX's experimental Starship rocket launches near Hawaiian waters. By mandating a more rigorous review process and requiring OHA consultation, the bill aims to ensure more comprehensive environmental and cultural protection for Hawaii's marine ecosystems and indigenous resources.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1476&year=2026