PGV emissions
Those who live near Puna Geothermal Venture wanted to know what gases other than H2S (hydrogen sulfide) were in the steam cloud when they had a release or when they performed a well cleanout.
This information was in the draft permit, and when I asked the director of Civil Defense if I could read this list at the latest Puna lava meeting, he said it wasn’t the venue for that, so let’s see if this is.
Dissolved and suspended solids and salts aren’t gasses, but they need to be tested and therefore included. The following is what the state Department of Health wanted PGV to test: ammonium, arsenic, asbestos, benzene, beryllium, boron, cadmium, carbonate and bicarbonate, fluorides, hydrogen sulfide, lead, mercury, methane, nitrates, nonmethane hydrocarbons, pH, radionuclides, radon, sulfates, total dissolved solids, total suspended salts and vinyl chloride.
During Tropical Storm Iselle, more than 130 individuals were reportedly known to have been injured, including 16 knockdowns (rendered unconscious), by the release from relief valves that failed to close for almost two hours.
It stands to reason there were many more who might never know what happened to them on Aug. 7, 2014, when PGV was forced to shut down after trees crashed into their power lines.
Dave Kisor
Pahoa