Hawaii Environmental Policay and Act (HEPA) Essay

Hawaii Environmental Policay and Act (HEPA) - Essay Example Those who would want to make this type of developmental change must get the governments permission. Even proposed buildings or expansion projects of existing structures owned or controlled by the agencies of the government on public land is not exempt from getting the governments permission. You can get said permission from the Environment Department. The Office of Environmental Quality Control (OEQC) is directly charged with issuing the permission. The OEQC's primary task is to stimulate, expand and coordinate efforts to maintain the optimum quality of the States environment. All private as well as public entities and agencies must secure the aforementioned permission. This is how strict the government is that it requires itself, the Laie Elementary School is a government controlled and operated school, to obtain permission to build from itself, the OEQC another agency of the government. This safeguard is to make sure that there will be no destruction of the environment in any way. The Laie Elementary school wants to expand its cafeteria, and so must obtain the needed permission. They understand that they have to carefully study and know the rules of the OEQC. The school is prepared to do everything that the OEQC requires. I will discuss the issues that may affect the environment upon the implementation of the schools plan for developmental change. I will also explain the rules that must be followed before any expansion of the school may be allowed in Hawaii. I- Factual Background The project is located in the central area of Laie town in Oahu Island, more specifically in the campus of the Laie Elementary School. The place is owned by the State of Hawaii and the City and the County of Honolulu. The Campus is about 7.61 acres. Its land use classification is urban and is an R-5 residential under the zoning of the land use ordinance. R-5 zoning means that only single family residential units is occupying the neighboring lands. The proposed project consists of the expansion of the existing Laie Elementary school cafeteria. It will add an approximate of 3,600 SF or over 50% to the existing cafeteria. The cafeteria is approximately 30 years old and can fit only 250 occupants. At the present time the enrollment capacity of the school is at 900 students. To accommodate all students, the cafeteria's meal services have been made to provide meals in three shifts or batches. Presently Lunch is served in three seating shifts, from 10:45 AM to 11:15 AM. With the proposed expansion, lunches will still be served in shifts but it will be decreased to two seating shifts. The proposed expansion includes a dining area; new heater and electrical room; new tray return and wash area; locker room; toilet and an office space. The existing kitchen will be made bigger to accommodate the needs of cooking for the ever increasing school population. This will also ensure that meals are kept hot, preventing any bacterial growth and health issues that may arise from such growth. This developmental change will also include a much needed wastewater facility for the cafeteria. The facility will be connected to a local sewer system. At present, the cafeteria is not connected to a local sewer system. It uses a cesspool system. That pit poses environmental, health as well as safety

Bribery and Scandals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Bribery and Scandals - Essay Example This is because when bribery is used as a mean, it gives one part unfair advantage over the other and hence kills the spirit and the very meaning of unfair play. Salt Lake City won the bid for hosting Winter Olympics 2002 and this meant commercial business worth $2.8 billion. The City had already once lost the bid to Nagano and was simply not willing to take no for an answer when bidding began in 1995. The decision had definitely created huge excited and enthusiasm and every thing looked good till an ugly bribery scandal was unearthed in 1998 and 1999. "The actions of Salt Lake bid committee members were a reaction to the 1991 loss to Nagano. Salt Lake bid officials believed their bid was technically superior to other cities in the competition, but they felt the city lost because Nagano bid officials had done more to appeal to individual IOC members. The Japanese bid was believed to have won support among IOC members when, for example, a substantial contribution was made by a Japanese business to the Olympic museum in Switzerland, a pet project of IOC President Samaranch." (Burbank) Someone this gave the Salt City officials the idea that in order to win the bid, it was best to have personal close relationships with members of the International Organizing Committee. And this idea gave birth to a series of bribes made to a number of major officials in the shape of extensive gifts, scholarships and vacations. They were even provided with "special" favors and comforts during their hotel stay. "In January, when the scandal broke, it looked like SLOC had paid off 13 of the 114 IOC members with $393,000, mostly in "scholarships and stipends" for family members. By the end of the month, the figure had risen to $800,000, with real cash bribes, and U.S. Olympic Committee member Alfredo La Mont had resigned amid allegations he took "consulting" fees to clue SLOC in on which IOC people were buyable. By early February, we were at $1.3 million for 24 members-a fifth of the IOC." (Mintz) It was an ugly episode in the history of Salt City and came to light when in November 1998, one television reporter got hold of a letter that was written by SLOC to the daughter of one of the IOC officials stating that her tuition assistance was being cancelled. This opened a Pandora box but initially the repercussions were quite muted. It was after the publication of a report by the ethics committee, that two main persons at the center of the scandal resigned and Governor Leavitt commented on the issue: "It must be made absolutely clear that the actions of a few do not reflect the values, moral expectations, or standards of behavior of this community and state. We deplore it, and revolt at being associated with them . The Olympics have been a shining light, but there is a sinister and dark corner of corruption. This culture of corruption has taken root because of a lack of accountability . This corner of Olympic corruption did not begin in Salt Lake City. But let it end here". (Leavitt 1999) The statement issued by the Governor showed that while he resented the actions, he did not blame his people for starting it. He gave the impression that it has been an on going practice. Whether he was right or not requires further investigation. We can only say that all in all, Salt Lake City scandal was indeed a scandal of bribery. The expensive gifts given to