Hawaiians Getting Notified of Federal Environmental Actions

Hawaiians Getting Notified of Federal Environmental Actions



2007 September -   The Department of the 
Interior's Office of Hawaiian Relations says it has established a Native 
Hawaiian Organization Notification List to help federal officials carry 
out their responsibilities concerning Native Hawaiian affairs. 
The list is intended to help federal agencies identify Native Hawaiian 
organizations that are to be notified and/or consulted with as required by 
law when carrying out mandated federal duties such as reburying Native 
Hawaiian remains, cleaning up contaminated lands, conducting environmental 
studies, and protecting historic properties. 
"It is our hope that this list will provide Native Hawaiian communities 
with greater notice of proposed federal actions in Hawaii," said Interior 
Deputy Assistant Secretary Chris Kearney. "The better we are able to 
provide advance notice of a federal action, the better communities will be 
able to participate in the decision making process." 
To be placed on the Notification List, a Native Hawaiian organization must 
certify in writing to the Office of Hawaiian Relations that the group 
serves and represents the interests of Native Hawaiians; provides services 
to Native Hawaiians; has expertise in Native Hawaiian affairs; and wants 
to be placed on the list. 
The Native Hawaiian group may also specify topical and geographic areas of 
interest. The request should include a contact name, phone number and 
e-mail address. The certification must be signed and dated by the Native 
Hawaiian organization's governing body and must include a valid U.S. 
mailing address where notifications can be sent. 
The list will be activated 60 days after it appears in the Federal 
Register, where it will be published this week. 
"Determining who to consult with has been a particularly difficult problem 
for federal agencies," said Ka'i'ini Kimo Kaloi, director of Interior's 
Office of Hawaiian Relations. "Having a Notification List in place will 
facilitate interaction with Native Hawaiian groups. It will help to create 
positive long term relationships between federal agencies and Native 
Hawaiian groups and allow federal officials to minimize the cost of 
consultation and devote more resources to their primary missions." 
The criteria for the list were developed based on information received 
during four public meetings in Hawaii and a 90 day public comment period. 
Several federal agencies also provided information, including the National 
Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Advisory Council on Historic 
Preservation and the departments of Defense, Agriculture, Transportation, 
Health and Human Services and Education. 
The notification list will allow federal officials to more rapidly satisfy 
statutory notification and consultation obligations under U.S. laws, such 
as the National Environmental Policy Act, National Historic Preservation 
Act, and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. 
The list will be maintained and updated by the Department of the Interior. 
The Office of Hawaiian Relations will publish the names and contact 
information of the listed Native Hawaiian organizations. Placement on the 
list will be valid for five years, after which Native Hawaiian groups must 
renew their participation to ensure that contact information is current 
and list participants who no longer wish to be contacted do not receive 
federal notices. 
Fore more information, please contact Ka'i'ini Kaloi, director, Office of 
Hawaiian Relations, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street, N.W., 
MS 3543, Washington, D.C. 20240. Telephone 202-513-0712 or 202-208-7462. 

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