2014-09-04 Hearing Transcript-Mayor - GAF Study

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from the health study, we need to address some regulatory issues that should happen. Thank you. BILTOFT: Hello, I’m Chris Biltoft, 14-5001 Hoolai Road, Kapoho Vacationland in Pāhoa, and I’m a meteorologist. I understand that we’re before you’re a, for your consideration is the RFP for a health study. I’ve tried to contribute to this RFP. I provided information and suggestions and what not. I really don’t know what is in this RFP. I’ve not had an opportunity to actually see it. I hope you have. I have not seen the thing. So, it’s kind of difficult for me or anyone else to really comment relevantly on something that we have not seen and cannot see. But, in any case, hopefully in the RFP, there is a, the possibility of doing retrospective dispersion modeling to try to establish what sorts of gas concentrations were put out at certain times during various releases. That would be a very, a useful thing to do. But, currently, you know, this current seven, eight August blowout has been a bit of a game changer. Now there’s a whole new class of people who have been allegedly exposed to various toxic gases, and so, you know, the health study as it is written now probably needs to be re-examined, and we need to take advantage of this, the information that is coming in now about this latest release and re-look at the design of the health study and perhaps gain something from the experience that these people have had, so that’s, that’s my suggestion before the group. And that’s about all I have to say. MIYASATO: Thank you. Could I have Cory Harving [sic] [Harden]. Cory. Could you please raise your right hand? Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth on this matter now before the Hawai‛i County Planning Commission? HARDEN: Yes. MIYASATO: Please state your name and residence. HARDEN: I’m Cory Harden, 874 Kuloloa Road in Hilo, and I’m just horrified at what I’m hearing about what people went through the night of August 7. I think we need to find out what were the health effects from August 7 in addition to the long-term health effects. Perhaps the County study could do a piece, and maybe the CDC could do a more thorough study. We also need to find out what the, was the responsibility of PGV, HELCO, Civil Defense, and Department of Health. For example, why didn’t Civil Defense order HELCO and PGV to have the plant shut off before the storm? Just temporarily during the storm. That would have prevented all this, but it sounds like private interests made the decision to keep it open, and it sounds like that should have been a government decision. I’d also like to know why does Puna Pono have to do the job that government should be doing. Why are they having to collect all this data and show there’s a problem. I mean, if people elected to represent the people should be, you know, representing and protecting them. I would like to know how come Bob could not see the RFP for today’s health study? I would like to see the permits looked at again and revised to protect people, and after this, we just, we cannot go back to business as usual. Thank you. MIYASATO: Thank you. I’d like to take a five-minute recess. Chairman Miyasato called a recess at 3:02 p.m., and the meeting was reconvened at 3:13 p.m. 21 EXHIBIT F