Rep. Evans seeks emergency appropriation for NELHA

Rep. Cindy Evans wants the administration to send down to the legislature a $3 million emergency appropriation for NELHA, the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority. Speaker Calvin Say sent a request letter to the Governor on behalf of Rep. Evans. The money would be used to repair a deep sea pipeline that sends sea water to the various fish farms and research projects located at the laboratory. West Hawaii Today reports here.

The pipeline is 1/2 miles of polyethylene pipe and extends to a depth of 2,000 ft. Repair work is needed around the 400-500 ft. depth. If not addressed soon, and if the pipe breaks or floats away, repair costs could escalate to $20 million, according to the WHT article.