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J��rlCs M,�7 COUNTY OF HAWAII '• STATE OF HAWAII 60V RESOLUTION NO. SS 15 A RESOLUTION REQUESTING PUNA GEOTHERMAL VENTURE TO REDUCE THE NOISE IMPACT TO RESIDENTS DURING THE NIGHT BY COMPLYING WITH ORDINANCE NO. 12-151. WHEREAS, in response to noise concerns caused by the drilling of a geothermal production well, the County on December 5, 2012, enacted Ordinance No. 12-151, which added a section to the Code that states "Geothermal resources exploration drilling and geothermal production drilling operations being conducted one mile or less from a residence, shall be restricted to the operating hours of 7:00 a.m. — 7:00 p.m."; and WHEREAS, Puna Geothermal Venture ("PGV") is scheduled to establish production well KS -16 by drilling four holes, beginning on January 25, 2015, and ending on April 1, 2015, less than one mile from residences; and WHEREAS, PGV maintains that Ordinance No. 12-151 does not prohibit the nighttime drilling of production well KS -16; and WHEREAS, during past episodes of geothermal drilling, residents who live near PGV have complained of a nonstop, low -frequency noise that interrupts their sleep and affects their health; and WHEREAS, PGV maintains that stopping the drilling of the well at night would compromise safety, increase the risk of a blowout, and add months to the drilling time and result in increased cost to ratepayers; and WHEREAS, residents who live near PGV have serious concerns about the practice of nighttime drilling; and WHEREAS, geothermal energy is a stable and renewable resource that reduces the consumption of fossil fuels and the carbon dioxide emissions, and supports the energy sustainability goals of Hawaii Island; and WHEREAS, the Council seeks areas of common ground; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that PGV is respectfully requested to reduce the noise impact to residents during the night by complying with Ordinance No. 12-151.