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U.S. EPA APPROVES PERMIT FOR PUNA GEOTHERMAL PLANT IN PAHOA

Release Date: 6/16/1999
Contact Information: Lois Grunwald, U.S. EPA (415) 744-1588

Permit will require safeguards to protect groundwater and ensure safe operation of the system

     SAN FRANCISCO--The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced it has approved an underground injection control permit for Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV) and its operator COSI Puna Inc. in Pahoa, Hawaii. The permit requires safeguards to protect groundwater resources and ensure safe operation of the system to prevent endangerment to public health and the environment.

      The Safe Drinking Water Act permit authorizes PGV to operate three existing geothermal injection wells and to construct up to seven new wells. The permit requires PGV to continuously monitor for leaks in the injection wells, in addition to periodically sampling nearby groundwater and injected fluids and gases.      

     The Puna facility produces electricity using steam from groundwater that is heated by a subsurface geothermal resource.  The condensed steam and geothermal brine and noncondensible gases from the production wells are reinjected back into the geothermal reservoir at depths below 3,900 feet.  Federal and state underground injection control programs regulate the injection of these fluids and gases. The EPA has the primary responsibility to implement the federal program.
 
     Copies of the permit, a federal fact sheet, and public notice are available at:

Pahoa Public Library                                      
15-3070 Pahoa Kalapana Road                    
Pahoa, Hawaii                            

Hilo Public Library
300 Waianuenue Avenue
Hilo, Hawaii

University of Hawaii                                      
Library                                                          
200 West Kawili Street                                  
Hilo, Hawaii                                                  
                                                                       
U.S. EPA Pacific Island
Contact Office
Federal Building
300 Ala Moana Blvd, Room 5124
Honolulu, Hawaii

Keaau Public Library  
16-571 Keaau Pahoa Road  
Keaau, Hawaii
                                 

     The EPA documents relating to the permit are also available on the agency's web site at: www.epa.gov/region09/water.  


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