Final supplemental environmental impact statement to the revised environmental impact statement for the Kahaualeʻa geothermal project

Abstract

True/Mid-Pacific Geothermal, Inc. in coordination with the Trustees of The Estate of James Campbell proposes to explore for and develop 100 megawatts (MW) of geothermal resources to produce electrical power in the Kilauea Middle East Rift Zone Geothermal Resource Subzone (GRS), Puna District, Island of Hawaii. This is a Supplemental Environmental Impact ,Statement (SUP EIS) to the Revised Kahauale'a Environmental Impact Statement [dated June, 1982 and accepted by the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) on July 20, 1982]. This SUP EIS hasbeen prepared as a result of a land exchange (State land in the Kilauea middle east rift zone for Kahauale'a) proposed by the BLNR and executed on December 20, 1985. (Land exchanges involving State lands are subject to review and veto by the Legislature.) As a result of the proposal to relocate the project area to adjoining State land encompassing the Kilauea middle east rift zone, a Conservation District Use Permit Appplication (CDUA) was submitted (Aug. 20, 1985) to the BLNR. This SUP EIS has been prepared in support of the revised CDUA. The proposed 100MW geothermal development project (scaled down from the 250MW Kahauale'a project) would be located within the designated GRS of 8,500 acres, more or less, within the 26,000 acres, more or less, of Campbell Estate land acquired from the State in exchange for Kahauale'a. Approximately 245 to 305 acres of a land area of 26,000 acres will be required for drilling sites, roadways, fluid transmission lines, electrical transmission lines, power plants and ancillary facilities. The project will require 35 drilling sites located in up to five exploration/development areas and up to five power plant sites. Power plant capacities will range from 5 MW to 55 MW of electricity. (One megawatt (MW) is equal to 1000 kilowatts). Electricity generated will be used to satisfy the needs of the island of Hawaii first, and secondly, for export to Oahu via a potential deep water cable between Hawaii and Oahu. The project area proposed is within the GRS of a Conservation District. Relatively unpopulated residential subdivisions are immediately north, east and south of the project area. The Kahauale'a parcel borders the western boundary and the Kamaili Geothermal Resource subzone borders the eastern boundary.