Puna emergency response : report on the review of Hawaii County emergency operations plan and Puna Geothermal Venture emergency response plan

Abstract

"This report summarizes a review of emergency response capabilities for Hawai’i County and Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV). The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) assembled an independent team of experienced individuals (the “Review Team”). EPA tasked them to review emergency response plans and conduct site visits and interviews. This project was a follow-up to the EPA’s 1995 compliance inspection of the PGV facility and a response to community requests. The purpose of the project was to provide an independent evaluation of the emergency response plans, with the long–term objective of preventing chemical accidents and improving emergency response capabilities. The review team conducted site visits in Hawai’i from August 5 through August 9, 1996. During that time, team members received information from state and local agencies, PGV, and the community (composed primarily of area residents). EPA held public meetings at the Pahoa Community Center and the University of Hawai’i, Hilo Campus Center to discuss the review. These meetings offered the review team an opportunity to meet with residents of the Puna area."

"Visits to Hawaiʻi August 5-9, 1996 included: County of Hawaiʻi Civil Defense, Fire Department and other local agencies, Puna Geothermal Venture, 14-3860 Kapoho-Pahoa Road, Pahoa, HI, State of Hawaiʻi Departments of Health and Civil Defense."