2015-01-08 Hearing Transcript-GAF Puna Pono Alliance

Home

Geothermal Asset Fund with the Claimants being Puna Pono Alliance, Pele Defense Fund, Sierra Club – Moku Ola [sic] Group, Ohana Ho‛opakele and Malu‛aina, et al. Again, what’s before you today is the discussion and action on a claim for the release of funds in the amount of $293,760 from the Geothermal Asset Fund to conduct a psycho-social impact and community wellbeing study. The purpose of the study as proposed by the Claimants will be to conduct a baseline and prospective psycho-social impact assessment on the Big Island of Hawai‛i in order to identify both past, existing, and potential adverse impacts upon Native Hawaiians associated with the development of geothermal energy generation facilities. The claim also includes a request that the Windward Planning Commission establish a Native Hawaiian Health Study Review Board that will provide advice in the conduct of the study and keep the Windward Planning Commission informed as to the progress of the study. Your Commission Rule 12 regarding the Geothermal Asset Fund allows the Windward Planning Commission to authorize the payment of money from the Geothermal Asset Fund to claimants whom the Commission finds have been adversely affected by activities, authorized or unauthorized, by Geothermal Resource Permit No. 2, and to authorize payment for community approved geothermal impact mitigation projects within the district of Puna. In accordance with your Rule 12, the requested claim was transmitted to the approved claim adjuster, John Mullen & Co., who reviewed the subject claim and recommended that it be denied as submitted for the reasons as detailed in their letter dated December 17, 2014. So, for your information, what the Department has provided to you is a copy of the claim itself, as well as the claim adjuster’s recommendations. So, with that, I—that’s all I have as far as the presentation. MIYASATO: Thank you. Commissioners, any questions for staff? Thank you. Is there any representative present today for any one of these Claimants here that would like to do a presentation or have a comment before we start the public testimony. Please come forward. You may go first. Please state your name and residence. DEDMAN: Palikapu Dedman, 1480 Komohana Street, Hilo, Hawai‛i. MIYASATO: Excuse me, sorry. I need to swear you in first. Could you please, 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? DEDMAN/ALBERTINI: Yes. [Secretary’s note: Mr. Fujiyoshi came up to the table at this point.] MIYASATO: Okay, please state your name and residence. DEDMAN: Palikapu Dedman, 1480 Komohana Street, Hilo, Hawai‛i. You know, I’d just like to say if you guys can ever remember where you were in 1983? Just put yourself back in a little timeframe. In 1983, we were in a contested case hearing on geothermal and the effects it had on Hawaiians and the community and the environment. So, that’s how far back we’ve been talking and asking about studies to be done so that the problems you see today wouldn’t occur. And 2 EXHIBIT D