HI HB402

Requires all draft and final environmental assessments and environmental impact statements to include a cultural impact assessment.

Cultural impact assessments must identify and describe cultural practices, native Hawaiian traditional and customary rights, cultural and historic resources, and archaeological and burial sites in the affected ahupua'a.

Assessments must include evaluation of effects on cultural practices with mitigation measures, review of relevant department of land and natural resources documents, ethnographic studies, and documentation of public consultation.

Public consultation for cultural impact assessments must include at least one community meeting, interviews with community members and cultural practitioners, public availability of the assessment, and opportunity for public comment.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs approval of the cultural impact assessment is a condition precedent to acceptance of an environmental assessment or statement; environmental council to adopt implementing rules.