The Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday that Puna Geothermal Venture agreed to pay a civil penalty of $76,500 for chemical safety violations the EPA uncovered in a 2013 inspection.
The geothermal energy plant in lower Puna also has now complied with the Clean Air Act rules designed to minimize accidental chemical releases, according to a written statement.
The August 2013 EPA inspection came a few months after a pair of incidents in which the plant vented the poisonous gas hydrogen sulfide into the atmosphere.
“The April 2013 release was caused by a pump failure, resulting in a leak of geothermal condensate (composed primarily of water with some contaminants, including hydrogen sulfide) for about 15 minutes before PGV personnel were able to isolate and stop the leakage,” the EPA statement said. “The March 2013 release was attributed to the tripping of a breaker in the local power grid, and PGV’s emergency shutdown and hydrogen sulfide abatement systems functioned as designed.”
The geothermal plant has long been a lightning rod for controversy, with some residents living in and around the area claiming it has caused adverse health effects to those who live nearby.
Robert Petricci, president of the Puna Pono Alliance, an environmental group that opposes the geothermal plant, said Tuesday that the EPA penalty amounted to a “slap on the wrist.”
“This isn’t the first time something like this happened,” he said, referring to the violations and the release of chemicals. “It’s been almost over three years, and they’re finally getting around to slapping them on the wrist and giving them a fine. In that time, it happened again in 2014 with Hurricane Iselle.”
In August 2014, high winds from Tropical Storm Iselle knocked out power transmission lines near the 38-megawatt plant, causing it to shut down and release steam to relieve building pressure. Puna Geothermal Venture vented an estimated 67 pounds of hydrogen sulfide as a result.
“During (Tropical Storm) Iselle, they knew high winds would knock them offline because it had happened before. … Over 100 people were hurt,” Petricci claimed. “There’s currently a big lawsuit getting underway as a result. Where is the EPA? They’ve been silent on that release.”
The EPA inspection in August 2013 found a number of deficiencies in PGV’s health and safety measures, including efforts to prevent accidental releases of hydrogen sulfide.
“Specifically, the company had not tested and inspected its equipment with the frequency consistent with manufacturers’ recommendations, good engineering practices and prior operating experience,” the EPA said.
The inspectors also found a number of unsafe practices revolving around the use and handling of pentane, a flammable substance used as a working fluid in the facility’s electricity producing turbines.
PGV Plant Manager Mike Kaleikini said he was unable to provide a comment prior to press time.
Email Colin M. Stewart at cstewart@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
