2019-02-07 Hearing Transcript - Piilani Partners LLC SMA 18-070

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BUNN: Okay. So, we were talking about the potential for irreparable harm to the aquifer and my next question was what about an earthquake. Would having a well make it any more or less likely that the aquifer would be damaged in an earthquake? NANCE: I know of no earthquake damage to a well or even an aquifer in all the years I've been working like this. BUNN: And is that just in Hawaii or is that in all wells? NANCE: That'sno, that's limited to the State of Hawaii. BUNN: Okay. And, what about a tsunami? Would a tsunami cause damage to the well or to the aquifer? NANCE: We got two situations to deal with if, in fact, we had an inundation with a tsunami. One is if the aquifer's piezometric head is above ground, we would basically seal it off, and there would be essentially no opportunity for any of the sea water above to go down below. It would be sealed off If, what I don't think will happen, is that the piezometric head is somewhere below ground. In that case, the baseplate that we put over the well would have a vent, and it would be a screen vent in a J shape, and we put a valve on that. So, if we have a tsunami, if that valve isn't closed, that would be a passage way for salt water to possibly come into the well. So, if we have that situation, we would have to go close the valve on that vent, and otherwise the well is completely sealed and wouldn't be damaged. BUNN: And, what is the process of closing that valve under the circumstances you described where the piezometric head is less? NANCE: Well, once somebody gets to the site, another 15 seconds. BUNN: Okay. NANCE: You're talking about just an inch and a half pipe with a small little valve. It's just an air valve really. BUNN: And, I had the same question regarding sea level rise. What is the potential for sea level rise to damage either the well or the aquifer? NANCE: Essentially, none. What people don't realize, we've already experienced sea level rise for months at a time. The mean ocean level actually goes all over the place with large-scale meteorological events that lasts for weeks or even months. El Nino or the like. And, ocean level, mean ocean level, not the semidiurnal tide, but the mean ocean level for many part of one year to the other and the years that I've been tracking it, can be up to a foot different, and what happens with the groundwater is it rides up with it and it goes back down. So, if the sea level rises, what will happen is the artesian head will also rise in response to that, but otherwise no impact one way or the other. EXHIBIT D 18