#Olowalu debris

With the end of temporary federal emergency assistance now set for the end of next month, Mayor Richard Bissen advised Lahaina wildfire survivors Wednesday night to take a permanent housing alternative, if available.

The West Maui Temporary Debris Storage site environmental monitoring quarterly report for the fourth 90-day operational period shows the findings from sampling and monitoring comply with county, state and federal environmental regulations.

More than 17,000 truckloads of ash and debris have been taken from Lahaina to the Temporary Debris Storage in Olowalu. The data is among the highlights included in a second Quarterly Report.

Lahaina wildfire survivors were updated Wednesday on the progress of ash and debris removal from residential properties destroyed Aug. 8, and they learned the results of surveys aimed at assessing public sentiment in how to determine the final disposal site for thousands of burned homes.

The County of Maui reminds residents that the last day to respond to its survey on a permanent disposal site for wildfire debris from Lahaina is this Thursday, Feb. 15.  

The temporary traffic signal near Cut Mountain will allow vehicles hauling fire debris to cross the Lahaina Bypass. The crossing will only be for debris removal vehicles and is not open to the public. The signal will be manually controlled during work hours.

The petition from a family on Olowalu Village Road says even temporary storage of these substances from the Aug. 8 wildfires “poses great risk of causing irreversible damage to soil, water, air, the ocean and people.”