2016-11-03 Hearing Transcript - Ohana Ho'opakele GAF Claim

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CLARKSON: Before we begin, when would it be appropriate to move for executive session. ARAI: Allow us to go ahead and CLARKSON: Okay. ARAI: —make the initial introduction and at that point, you can discuss when to go into executive session. I do believe we have people here that would be offering testimony so you can decide whether to receive that testimony first, and then at the conclusion of public testimony, then consider executive session. That way you're able to also consider any testimony that was presented on this particular agenda item. And, before we get into Agenda Item No. 6, for the notification of the Commission and members of the public who are here this morning—thank you very much for attending—Item No. 7 is a claim by the Office of the Mayor for the release of funds from the Geothermal Asset Fund to provide supplemental funding in support of the geothermal public health study for which the Commission issued a previous award in the amount of $750,000. This particular item, while agendized, is being postponed for additional information to be provided to the claim adjuster. That being said, the recommendation of the claim adjuster was not received by the office, and we have nothing to present to you at this moment which is why the request for postponement has been made. So, while we're going to be speaking on Item No. 6 which is the claim by Ohana Ho`opakele, it is my understanding as well that the members of the public can also speak to Agenda Item No. 7 even though it is being postponed, but because it is on the agenda, you can speak to it. And, the Chair will outline the procedures regarding testimony on that particular agenda item as well. So, with that all being said, I will go into a brief presentation on Agenda Item No. 6 with the Claimant being Ohana Ho`opakele. 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 and community wellbeing study in response to geothermal development on the Big Island. The purpose of the study as presented by the Claimants is to conduct a baseline and prospective psycho -social impact assessment on the Big Island of Hawaii in order to identify both past, existing, and potential adverse impacts upon Native Hawaiians associated with the development of geothermal energy generation facilities. Commission, Planning Commission Rule No. 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 impacted 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. EXHIBIT C 2