Notice of Technical Guidance Manual Updates – UECA Language Edits

Posted on May 30, 2025 in All

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health is updating the Technical Guidance Manual to incorporate revisions related to the Uniform Environmental Covenants Act (UECA), codified under Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 508C.

 

The UECA, adopted by the State of Hawaiʻi in 2006 via Senate Bill 1167, provides a legal framework for the use of environmental covenants – instruments related to the use and enjoyment of real property that establish enforceable restrictions or obligations to ensure the long-term protection of public health and the environment at sites where contamination remains in place.

 

These updates are being made to improve program consistency and harmonize practices across HDOH environmental health branches and the HEER Office.  The updates clarify requirements regarding the use of environmental covenants in accordance with 508C HRS at sites closed with residual environmental hazards left in place and institutional and/or engineering controls that require long-term management.

 

For more information on UECA and environmental covenants, please refer to HRS Chapter 508C and the TGM Sections 1.1.3, 18.6.5,  and 19.8.1.