HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0725.004 2010-2012 Mtr os M '' William T.Takaba
` /\��• Managing Director
William P.Kenoi -•: •
Mayor
• •' Walter K.M.Lau
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♦`. Deputy Managing Director
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County of Hawaii
25 Aupuni Street • Hilo,Hawai`i 96720 • (808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553
KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy.,Bldg.C • Kailua-Kona,Hawai`i 96740
(808)324-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440
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July 12,2012 r.3
Members of the County Council -=r
County of Hawaii =®
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo,HI 96720
Re: Bill 257,Draft 2,Amending Chapter 7, Section 7-3,Hawaii County Code 183
(2005 Edition,As Amended),Relating to Emergency Response and
Evacuation Plans For Geothermal Facilities
Pursuant to Section 3-12 of the Hawai'i County Charter, I am disapproving Bill 257,
Draft 2, and returning it to you.
This bill proposes to require:
• The Civil Defense Agency to prepare a separate emergency response and
evacuation plan for geothermal facilities;
• The plan to be adopted and prepared and submitted to the County Council by
August 1,2012; and
• The deputy director to invite the"state department of health,the police
department,the fire department,the department of parks and recreation,the
department of public works, residents of the affected community, and the
geothermal power production facility to participate in the preparation of the
plan."
The Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency already has evacuation plans that would cover
not only an evacuation from the area surrounding PGV in the event of a geothermal-
related emergency, but its plans cover all types of emergency evacuations from the
volcanic activity and brush fires to hurricanes and tsunamis. These plans are based on
County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Ref. Tt1. NO.� "�, "�" �`
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Ref. Date .JUL 13 21112
Members of the Hawaii County Council
Page 2
July 12, 2012
national standards and are coordinated with both state and federal agencies. Since
effective plans are already in place,there is no need for a new plan.
As to the bill itself,the requirement of the August 1,2012 date obviously is self-defeating
as it is would be impossible to get input from all these agencies and the public in any
meaningful way by August 1, 2012. It is clear that this bill was intended to require the
administration to immediately ask for the 90-day extension,thus pointing out that this
was a poorly drafted bill.
This new subsection(b) is also inconsistent with subsection(a) as it makes no mention of
coordination and integration with the plans and programs of the State and Federal
governments. It does not make sense to have separate evacuation plans for different
facilities in specific locations as opposed to a standard set of practices that each agency is
familiar with.
For these reasons, I am disapproving Bill 257,Draft 2.
Aloha,
William P. Kenoi
MAYOR
Enclosure
County of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.