Environmental law is a broad topic that includes state and federal statutes and regulations governing air quality, water quality, waste management, cleanup of air, water, and ground contaminants, and chemical safety in plastics, pesticides, and other consumer products. And the state and federal regulation, management, and conservation of natural resources such as forests, minerals, and fish and game often intersect with these environmental law issues.
In Hawaii, environmental law encompasses a range of regulations and statutes at both the state and federal levels designed to protect air and water quality, manage waste, remediate contamination, and ensure chemical safety in consumer products. The Hawaii State Department of Health is primarily responsible for enforcing state environmental laws, including the Clean Air Branch for air quality and the Clean Water Branch for water quality. Waste management is regulated under the Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch. Additionally, Hawaii has specific laws for the management of its unique natural resources, such as the Hawaii State Planning Act, which includes environmental quality as one of its priority concerns. Federally, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plays a significant role in overseeing environmental protection, with laws like the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) setting standards that Hawaii must meet or exceed. The intersection of environmental law with natural resource conservation is evident in regulations pertaining to forests, minerals, and wildlife, which are managed to balance ecological sustainability with economic interests. The Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) are examples of federal laws that influence state resource management and conservation efforts.