Hawaii agrees to hand over site to Maui County for wildfire landfill and memorial
The Hindu
: Hawaii's land board approves state land for wildfire memorial and debris disposal near Lahaina. Concerns raised over impact on coral reefs and historic sites. County to monitor area for 30 yrs, install wells to check for leaks. Public outreach planned.
Hawaii's land board has approved handing over state land on Maui to be used for a wildfire memorial and fire debris disposal but officials urged Maui County to talk further with the community after some raised concerns about how the proposed landfill would affect nearby coral reefs and historic sites.Hawaii's land board has approved handing over state land on Maui to be used for a wildfire memorial and fire debris disposal but officials urged Maui County to talk further with the community after some raised concerns about how the proposed landfill would affect nearby coral reefs and historic sites.
The state Board of Land and Natural Resources on Friday voted to allow the county to use the parcel in Olowalu, about 8 kilometres south of Lahaina.
The August 8 wildfire - the deadliest to hit the United States in over a century - left behind burned cars, charred beams and piles of rubble. Officials have recovered some remains from at least 99 people but believe additional human remains are mixed in with debris ash.
Also read: Hawaii’s deadly wildfire: what we know
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency teams have been removing toxic items like pesticides and solar-powered batteries from the town.
The steel and concrete will mostly be recycled, said Shayne Agawa, the director of Maui's Department of Environmental Management. Debris destined for the landfill will be mostly ash and small particles, he said.
The ash contains high levels of arsenic and lead and is now sitting out out exposed to wind or rain, creating hazards for people and pets. Removing it as soon as possible will reduce the risk to returning residents, he said.
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