2014-01-09 Windward Planning Commission Minutes

Home

General update/overview of the Geothermal Public Health Assessment dated September 9, 2013, prepared on behalf of The Geothermal Public Health Assessment Study Group, and its findings and recommendations. Discussion regarding selection of a professional claims adjuster in accordance with Rule 12-5 of the Planning Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure regarding the Geothermal Asset Fund in anticipation of the filing of claims by the Office of the Mayor for the release of funds from the Geothermal Asset Fund for the following community approved geothermal impact mitigation projects Air Quality Monitoring Equipment Purchases - $180,000 a. New fixed and hand held air quality monitors to be purchased by Hawaii County Civil Defense to improve emergency response to geothermal events and to provide community members with hand held monitors, on a pilot basis. Ground Water Sampling in the Kilauea East Rift - $45,000 b. Contract with USGS to conduct ground water sampling of existing wells and selected warm ponds along the Lower Puna coast to test for the presence of chemicals used in the geothermal energy process that might have mixed with ground water in the region. The study follows up a 1994 Study by USGS and addresses a specific recommendation in the study group’s report to conduct such studies. Meta-Analysis of Health Effects of Low to Moderate H2S Exposure; John A Burns School c. of Medicine - $55,000 The study will synthesize results of available published studies on the impacts of low to moderate exposures of H2S from geothermal and other sources globally. The report will highlight consistent research findings using independent biostatisticians and epidemiologist and lay the ground work for future health studies in the Puna Region. Comparative Analysis of Hospitalization and Emergency Department visits for Puna d. Residents; John A. Burns School of Medicine - $27,500 The study will investigate whether the residents who live in proximity of the Puna geothermal plant are more likely to experience negative health impacts based on existing health data on all payers and all visits to local medical facilities. Data will be drawn from the Hawaii Health Information Corporation databases and compare Puna data with control data in other Hawaii communities. Enhanced Level 1 Environmental Site Assessment on former HGP-A brine water pond e. sites - $25,000 Study would collect existing environmental data and conduct soil sampling from the former brine pond sites to analyze for the presence of any hazardous materials that may be in the ground as a result of the early years of geothermal development. The Commission took up these items simultaneously at 10:07 a.m. with approximately 23 people from the public in attendance. (SEE EXHIBIT B) INITIATOR: PLANNINGDIRECTOR Amendment to Chapter 25, Article 4, Division 5 and Article 7, Division 2 of the Hawai‘i County Code 1983, (2005 Edition, as amended), relating to increased residential density, including parking requirements, within CDH, Downtown Hilo Commercial District. The purpose of this ordinance is to rectify an unintended revision to Section 25-4-51 of the Hawai‘i County Code where the enactment of Ordinance No. 13-95 inadvertently repealed amendments to Section 25-4-51 3