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<br />next day. This is serious. I mean, you know, I have heard of other people that had died during
<br />this time, so you know, I’m you know, my health is in, I’m in good health pretty much, and you
<br />know, I came down with headaches, sore throat, and I don’t know what—it’s, I would hope that
<br />you approve of the study and hopefully other things can happen to help the community. Thank
<br />you.
<br />
<br />ADAMS: Hello, my name is Gregg Adams. I’m a commercial farmer. I reside at Lava Tree
<br />Park Subdivision which is located at Mile Marker 3, Route 132, kind of indirectly across the
<br />th
<br />street from geothermal, on the northwest side. The night of August 7 when Iselle hit, it was
<br />approximately about 7:30 because I reviewed my text messages to a buddy down the block, we
<br />were keeping in touch with. I text him and said hey geothermal just blew. Was very concerned
<br />at that point. The noise and the stress of just the hurricane coming top, on top of the geothermal
<br />blowout was just absolutely nerve shattering. So, and then, now I’m on the, kind of the upwind
<br />side if you will of geothermal but all of a sudden, in the hurricane, these winds are travelling
<br />around the who knows how they can track, but I’m smelling the rotten eggs, the typical hydrogen
<br />sulfide smell. I also had health effects, scratchy throat, burning eyes, headache. Was told by
<br />HPD when I called at 911 that we were aware of it, there’s no health, safety risk at that time.
<br />Later on, I was texted by my buddy and he says B97 is releasing a statement that it is an
<br />uncontrolled blowout and you should evacuate if you’re being affected by the release of the gas.
<br />This was almost an absurd thing because there was no way to get out of the, there was no way to
<br />leave the area. Now, I may take a little different stance on this. I believe that there is a lot of
<br />public testimony about the health effects of geothermal around. We all, a few of us have given
<br />video testimony of what we’re feeling. These funds may be directed I feel in a different area in
<br />regards to maybe mitigating the effects of a blowout from geothermal. I just feel that, that you
<br />can’t gas the community when the facility fails. So, that’s my contention, and please forgive me.
<br />I’m new to this arena, so a little nervous, and I just feel that this was a—we feel like canaries in
<br />the coalmine, and we are getting gassed. Thank you.
<br />
<br />MIYASATO: Thank you. Could I have Russell Ruderman starting on this side. Geoff Last,
<br />Judith Mira, and Paul Kuykendall. Could you please raise your right hands? Do you swear or
<br />affirm to tell the truth on this matter now before the Hawai‛i County Planning Commission?
<br />
<br />RUDERMAN/LAST: Yes.
<br />
<br />MIRA/KUYKENDALL: Yes, I do.
<br />
<br />MIYASATO: You can go ahead and start. State your name and residence.
<br />
<br />RUDERMAN: Thank you. My name is Russell Ruderman. I reside at 15-937 Paradise Ala Kai
<br />in HPP. I’m State Senator from Puna District, but I’m testifying as an individual, and I do want
<br />to thank you for the opportunity to speak to you. I support this appropriation of funds for the
<br />health study with some concerns which I’ll try to explain. The community deserves a
<br />comprehensive health study. In fact, it’s at least 20 years overdue, but you know better late than
<br />never. It’s very important that, I do also think that this is a legitimate and appropriate use of the
<br />Geothermal Asset Funds. I think it’s important for you folks to insist that this study have
<br />legitimacy, neutrality, objectivity, that it be scientific and not politicized. It’s a lot of money to
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