Opinion ID: 2581050
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: 2.2 mgd of Unpermitted Water

Text: In Waiãhole I, this court held that pursuant to its duties as trustee, and in the interest of precaution, the Commission should consider providing reasonable margins of safety for instream trust purposes when establishing instream flow standards. The Commission, however, should not concern itself with allocations to a buffer at the outset. Rather, the Commission should incorporate any allowances for scientific uncertainty into its initial determination of the minimum standard. Any flows in excess of this standard shall remain in the stream until permitted and actually needed for offstream use, in keeping with the policy against waste and in recognition that the standard merely states an absolute minimum required under any circumstances. These unallocated flows, however, will not constitute a distinct category or quantity, but will fluctuate according to variations in supply and demand. Id. On remand, it appears that 2.2 mgd were not allocated. The Windward Parties argue that by failing to include the unpermitted 2.2 mgd in the IIFS, the Water Commission fails to protect instream values to the extent practicable. Although nothing in the record indicates that the Water Commission created a separate and distinct category by not including 2.2 mgd of unpermitted water in the IIFS, the Water Commission, nonetheless, failed to make any findings regarding the 2.2 mgd, leaving this court without a means to decide the issue. Thus, we remand this issue for FOFs and COLs on the subject.