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| Rainbow from a Passing shower. Puna Geothermal Plant, Pahoa, Hawaii, USA. Taken by Sam Abraham on February 24, 2012. GRC Photo Contest. |
A geothermal well field next to a volcanic rift that is fountaining lava was declared “essentially safe” Tuesday after measures were taken to prevent uncontrolled releases of underground fluids and gases.
Crews used water to quench two Puna Geothermal Venture wells and inserted a chemical plug into a third well on the property.
Tom Travis, administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, said the wells are isolated and are each sealed off with two large valves on top “so the status is stable, predictable and understandable, and there’s no reason as a result of any of the status of wells to feel any undue concern.”
