The U.S. Coast Guard announced Sept. 26 that the first phase of a multi-phase plan is underway to remove pollution and hazardous material in the aftermath of the Aug. 8 wildfire in Maui.
More than 2,100 gallons of product from vessels have been removed from around Lahaina Harbor by members of the Coast Guard, the Hawaii Department of Health and the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation and contractor Global Diving & Salvage.
Global Diving workers who surveyed Lahaina Harbor are said to be refining a plan for the removal of hazardous product and sunken vessels.
Once the vessels are removed, they are to be moved to a nearby parking lot acting as a temporary staging area, according to Coast Guard.
The USCG and the two state departments are said to be working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on final vessel disposition.
The Aug. 8 wildfire devastated the town of Lahaina, killing at least 97 people and destroying more than 2,000 buildings, most of them homes, according to the Associated Press.
A Harbor Coordination Group has been created for owners and operators of affected vessels and can be emailed at D14-DG-SH-SecHono-MTSRU@uscg.mil.
