Historic preservation compliance for True Geothermal Energy Company proposed well site number 2 (KMERZ) former Puna Forest Reserve, Puna, Hawaii, TMK: 1-2-10: 3

Abstract

Pursuant to the tenas and conditions of the Decision and Order of the Board of Land and Natural Resources dated Apr11 11, 1986, a full archaeological survey is to be conducted and approved prior to any clearing activities for each drill site and roads in the project area. This survey, which is called an archaeological inventory survey by our department, is to cover all areas to be cleared for construction and an area two to five times that to be developed. The procedures for the survey work are spelled out in the Research Design called for in the Decision and Order, with this design having been amended by joint agreement in the Fall of 1990 to accomodate the potential presence of lava tubes with significant historic remains at or in the vicinity of proposed well sites. To comply with this survey requirement, True Geothermal Energy Company has conducted an archaeological inventory survey of proposed Well Site Number 2 and a buffer quadrat around it. This survey has been done in three fieldwork increments. Results of the first two increments were sublitted to the Department in separate reports (Reports of Archaeological Consultants of Hawaii dated September 6, 1990 and October 26, 1990). After reviewing these two reports, it was concluded by our department that the survey methods for the two increments already completed had to be clarified in the report and that the survey fieldwork had not yet adequately covered the project area specified in the revised Research Design, necessitating a third increment of fieldwork.