EPA cites geothermal plant for violations

HILO » A geothermal plant on Hawaii island has been cited by the Environmental Protection Agency for 14 violations, accused of failing to properly maintain and monitor its operations.

The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported Tuesday that 10 of the violations had already been corrected as of 2010.

A spokesman for the geothermal plant, Puna Geothermal Venture, said the company disagrees with the EPA’s findings but can’t yet comment more specifically. "We are working on a response to the report," said Mike Kaleikini, the plant’s senior director of Hawaiian affairs.

The EPA said in a letter to the plant last month that PGV had failed to take some necessary steps to prevent releases but generally operated the facility well. The agency said the plant doesn’t always follow its schedules for maintaining and testing its geothermal wells.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Public meetings will cover GMO, pesticide rules

A series of meetings by the Kauai Office of Economic Development will be held this month to inform the public about draft rules that regulate pesticide use and genetically modified organisms by large-scale commercial agricultural companies.

The meetings will be held: 

>> 5 p.m. Thursday, Lihue Neighborhood Center.

>> 5 p.m. Monday, Waimea Neighborhood Center.

>> 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Kapaa Neighborhood Center.

>> 5 p.m. May 21, Hanalei Hale Halawai Center.

>> 5 p.m. May 22, Koloa Neighborhood Center.

To request accommodation for sign language or interpreters, contact the Office of Economic Development at 241-4946 or email gcosta@kauai.gov at least five days before the meeting date.

To see a draft of the rules, go to www.kauai.

gov. Hard copies are also available at the Office of Economic Development, 4444 Rice St., Suite 200, in Lihue. 

Comments may be emailed to Deputy County Attorney Mona Clark at mclark@kauai.gov.

Mounting costs halt bid to build animal shelter

HOOLEHUA, MOLOKAI >> Organizers trying to bring Molokai its first open-admission animal shelter are suspending their efforts after problems with expensive real estate and permitting.

The Maui News reports that staff members of The Shields’ Animal Shelter Foundation will no longer pursue the shelter after spending two years and more than $200,000 in travel and other expenses. Debi Buechel, the foundation’s executive director, said the cheapest suitable property was $600,000, and state and local regulations would mean delays.