Opinion ID: 2515085
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: First Review by This Court: Sierra Club I

Text: This court's first review in Sierra Club v. Department of Transportation of the State of Hawai`i ( Sierra Club I ), 115 Hawai`i 299, 167 P.3d 292 (2007), provides the initial background for this case: The Hawaii Superferry project generally involves an inter-island ferry service between the islands of O'ahu, Maui, Kaua'i, and Hawai`i, using harbor facilities on each island. According to a permit application filed with the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on July 22, 2004, Hawaii Superferry, Inc. has proposed to develop and operate a high-speed roll-on/roll-off ferry service, using two vessels, capable of carrying up to 866 passengers and 282 cars, or 26 trucks or buses and 65 cars per trip. As a result of negotiations between the State and Hawaii Superferry, Inc., DOT concluded that several improvements to Kahului Harbor were necessary to accommodate the Superferry project, including the construction of a removable barge to Pier 2 of the harbor and other improvements to assist in Superferry operations. According to DOT, [t]he state anticipates the barge will cost as much as $10 million, and the State of Hawai`i has allocated a total of approximately $40,000,000 in state funds for improvements to the four harbors that will be utilized by the Superferry project. Appellants, consisting of two nonprofits and one unincorporated association, are environmental groups whose members use the area around Kahului harbor in various ways. The Sierra Club is one of the nation's largest environmental organizations, with over 700,000 members, approximately 5,000 of which live in Hawai`i. The Sierra Club has a Hawai`i Chapter and a Maui group, which are involved in educating the public about Hawaii's natural resources through hikes, exploring wild places and natural resources, restoring and preserving eco-systems through service trips, and protecting open space through lobbying and litigation. Maui Tomorrow is described by a member as a Maui island-wide environmental group which has participated in numerous environmental issues including but not limited to the environmentally sound growth of [ ] airport and harbor infrastructures. The Kahului Harbor Coalition is an organization of farmers, businessmen, recreational users and citizens formed out of concern about the increased risks of alien species introductions through Kahului Harbor. Id. at 305-06, 167 P.3d at 298-99 (footnote omitted) (brackets in original). In Sierra Club I, Sierra Club argued that: (1) the circuit court erred in dismissing Appellants' claim on the basis of standing because Appellants are among those injured by potential adverse impacts caused by the Hawaii Superferry project, and also because they suffer a procedural injury; (2) the circuit court erred in granting summary judgment in favor of Appellees by ruling that they complied with [Hawai`i Environmental Policy Act (HEPA)], because the exemptions were illegal and did not apply; (3) the circuit court erred in dismissing, as premature, Appellants' claim that the Hawaii Superferry project must be incorporated into the ongoing [environmental assessment (EA)] for Kahului Harbor Improvements, because the harbor exemptions were unlawfully segmented from the already initiated but incomplete EA; and (4) the circuit court erred in refusing to continue the hearing to permit further discovery because there was a factual dispute as to what was before DOT in making its exemption determination. Id. at 305, 167 P.3d at 298. On August 23, 2007, this court issued an order reversing the July 12, 2005 circuit court judgment, holding that DOT's determination that the improvements to the Kahului Harbor are exempt from the requirements of [Hawai`i Revised Statutes (HRS)] chapter 343 was erroneous as a matter of law, and instructing the circuit court to enter summary judgment in favor of Appellants on their claim as to the request for an EA. Id. The case was also remanded for such other and further disposition of any remaining claims as may be appropriate. Id. at 343, 167 P.3d at 336. On August 31, 2007, this court filed its opinion in Sierra Club I in support of its August 23, 2007 order. On October 3, 2007, this court filed its judgment on appeal in Sierra Club I, stating: Pursuant to the opinion of the Supreme Court of the State of Hawai`i entered on August 31, 2007, the final judgment of the Circuit Court of the Second Circuit entered on July 12, 2005 is vacated and, in accordance with this court's August 23, 2007 order, the circuit court is instructed to enter summary judgment in favor of Appellants on their claim as to the request for an environmental assessment and the case is remanded for such other and further disposition of any remaining claims as may be appropriate.