Laserfiche WebLink
<br />WINDWARD PLANNING COMMISSION <br />COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I <br /> <br />HEARING TRANSCRIPT <br />JANUARY 9, 2014 <br /> <br />Regularly advertised hearings on the general update/overview of the Geothermal Public Health <br />Assessment and on the discussion regarding selection of a professional claims adjuster were <br />simultaneously called to order at 10:07 a.m. in the County of Hawai‘i, Aupuni Center Conference <br /> <br />Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo, Hawai‘i, with Vice Chairman Ronald Gonzales presiding. <br /> <br />COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Ronald Gonzales, Charles Heaukulani, Gregory Henkel, <br />Myles Miyasato and Raylene Moses <br /> <br />ABSENT AND EXCUSED: Wallace Ishibashi and Stephen Ono <br /> <br />ALSO PRESENT: Margaret Masunaga (Deputy Corporation Counsel), Duane Kanuha (Planning <br />Director), Daryn Arai (Planning Program Manager), Phyllis Fujimoto (Planner), Jeff Darrow <br />(Planner), Maija Cottle (Planner), Sarah Hata-Finley (Commission Secretary) and Noriko Sauer <br />(Commission Secretary) <br /> <br />And approximately 23 people from the public in attendance. <br /> <br />General update/overview of the Geothermal Public Health Assessment dated September 9, <br />2013, <br /> prepared on behalf of The Geothermal Public Health Assessment Study Group, and its <br />findings and recommendations. <br /> <br />Discussion regarding selection of a professional claims adjuster <br /> in accordance with Rule 12-5 of <br />the Planning Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure regarding the Geothermal Asset Fund in <br />anticipation of the filing of claims by the Office of the Mayor for the release of funds from the <br />Geothermal Asset Fund for the following community approved geothermal impact mitigation <br /> <br />projects <br />Air Quality Monitoring Equipment Purchases - $180,000 <br />a. <br />New fixed and hand held air quality monitors to be purchased by Hawaii County Civil Defense <br />to improve emergency response to geothermal events and to provide community members with <br />hand held monitors, on a pilot basis. <br />Ground Water Sampling in the Kilauea East Rift - $45,000 <br />b. <br />Contract with USGS to conduct ground water sampling of existing wells and selected warm <br />ponds along the Lower Puna coast to test for the presence of chemicals used in the geothermal <br />energy process that might have mixed with ground water in the region. The study follows up a <br />1994 Study by USGS and addresses a specific recommendation in the study group’s report to <br />conduct such studies. <br />Meta-Analysis of Health Effects of Low to Moderate H2S Exposure; John A Burns School <br />c. <br />of Medicine - $55,000 <br /> <br />The study will synthesize results of available published studies on the impacts of low to <br />moderate exposures of H2S from geothermal and other sources globally. The report will <br />highlight consistent research findings using independent biostatisticians and epidemiologist and <br />lay the ground work for future health studies in the Puna Region. <br />1 <br />EXHIBIT B <br /> <br />