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Pacific Southwest, Region 9
Serving: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Pacific Islands, Tribal Nations
Puna Emergency Response Plans Review
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Background and History
The Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV) facility in Pahoa, Hawaii produces electricity using steam from groundwater that is heated by a subsurface geothermal resource. The condensed steam and geothermal brine and noncondensible gases from the production wells are reinjected back into the geothermal reservoir at depths below 3,900 feet. In 1995, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency inspected the PGV facility. In follow-up to this inspection, and in response to community concerns about the status of emergency plans regarding the facility, EPA prepared a draft report which reviewed emergency response capabilities for Hawai'i County and for the PGV facility. The public was invited to comment on this draft report during an extended 90-day public comment period (2/19/99 to 5/31/99). EPA has incorporated pertinent suggestions and comments into the final report. As of September 13, 2000, a fact sheet and the final report on emergency response plans are both available. Now that the final report is completed, EPA will work with Hawai'i County and PGV to implement the appropriate recommendations and incorporate relevant information into the emergency response plans.
Available Documents
- Fact Sheet
This fact sheet is also available in PDF (27 pp, 50K About PDF) - Final Report PDF (2 pp, 360K About PDF)
Note: The appendices are not available on-line. Please refer to the information repositories below for sources of the appendices. - Draft Report (February 1999)
Note: The appendices are not available on-line. Please refer to the information repositories below for sources of the appendices.
Information Repositories
Copies of the Puna Emergency Response Plans Review Public Notice, Final Report, and Draft Review Report (including appendices) may be found in the following repositories:
300 Ala Moana Blvd., Room 5-152
Honolulu, HI 96850
(808) 541-2710
Pahoa Public Library
15-3070 Pahoa Kalapana Road
Pahoa, HI 96778
(808) 965-8574
Kailua-Kona Public Library
75-138 Haulalai Road
Kailu-Kona, HI 96740
(808) 327-4327
200 West Kawili Street
Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 974-7346
Keaau Public Library
16-571 Keaau Pahoa Road
Keaau, HI 96749
(808) 966-8181
Hilo Public Library
300 Waianuenue Avenue
Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 933-8888
Comments and questions
Send questions and comments to:
Mike Ardito (ardito.michael@epa.gov)
EPA Region 9
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, California, 94105-3901