Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 8, Number 7, 1 July 1991 — Geothermal plant to be investigated [ARTICLE]

Geothermal plant to be investigated

The Hawaii Department of Health was expected to launeh a full investigation into the blowout of a well at Puna Geothermal Venture on the Big Island last month. State health department officials announced plans to investigate why the company's blow out preventors failed to operate, causing an eruption of steam from the well on June 13. Drillers reportedly hit a hot spot at about 3,500 feet whieh caused the well to spew steam containing hydrogen sulfide into sections of the Puna community. "While we understand how such a hot spot ean cause problems," said Bruce Anderson, deputy director for environmental health, "it's not clear why the backup system designed to prevent the blow out didn't work." Department officials have set standards for evacuation. If hydrogen sulfide emissions reach 0.10 parts per million, residents, particularly those who have respiratory ailments, should consider voluntary evacuation. If the hydrogen sulfide emissions reach 10 parts per million, department officials have instructed the Hawai'i Civil Defense to evacuate. The 15 to 20 residents of nearby Lanipuna subdivision were ordered toevacuateshortlyafter the blowout. Other residents left the area at the time trying to escape the rotten-egg smell of hydrogen sulfide gas.