EPA removal of hazardous materials begins in Lahaina

Aug 30, 2023

A melted boat is seen in the foreground of a fire-ravaged Wahikuli neighborhood Saturday in Lahaina. With the land and ocean search for victims of the fire nearly finished, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is starting to remove hazardous materials from homes so residents can eventually return to collect any personal belongings. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has begun removing and disposing of hazardous materials from homes as the post-fire response in Lahaina shifts to a new phase after weeks of search efforts.

After completing its work in Kula and Olinda over the weekend, the EPA is turning efforts to Lahaina, which also puts community members one step closer to returning to their properties.

“First and foremost this is at no cost to property owners. This is fully funded by federal funding,” Steve Calanog, the EPA’s incident commander, said of the hazardous materials removal.

Speaking at a county news conference Tuesday afternoon, Calanog said this first phase of hazardous waste removal involves assessing properties, identifying hazards and removing them. Hazardous materials could include compressed gas cylinders, pesticides, fertilizers and ammunition, as well as lithium-ion batteries, and in particular solar battery storage on homes, of which “there are quite a few.”

The EPA anticipates the process to take several months to complete, though the timeline will depend on work conditions, according to a news release from the EPA Tuesday afternoon.

Crews with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency work to remove hazardous materials after the fires Upcountry. With cleanup complete Upcountry, EPA crews are now moving efforts to Lahaina. Photo courtesy EPA

The EPA will only remove household hazardous material and will immediately stop work and contact the Maui Police Department if functional firearms or suspected remains are found, the EPA added.

“Our intent is to do this work as safely as possible,” Calanog said. “The conditions out especially in Lahaina present a lot of challenges. We are working with the county and the state to go through as quickly and effectively, but ultimately as safely as possible. We all know of the rich and long historic and cultural significance of Lahaina. We have been working since we got here with cultural leaders, archaeologists from Maui and especially from the Lahaina area, and integrated approximately 25 cultural observers into our teams to ensure that we proceed with caution, with reverence and respect to the Hawaiian history and culture.”

Mayor Richard Bissen and other government leaders have said that after the EPA removes hazardous materials, they will allow residents go back to their properties to collect personal items. Officials said the EPA’s work does not involve the clearing of properties.

“Every step we take forward is a step with purpose, intent, and sensitivity,” Maui Emergency Management Agency Interim Administrator Darryl Oliveira said in a news release Tuesday. “We’re calling the phase after the hazardous material removal phase, the ‘Return to Lahaina’ phase. We really want to stress we want to get people back home.”

The EPA has 150 people on Maui, of which 30 percent are locals who have received hazmat tech certifications, Calanog said.

After the hazardous material is removed, the EPA may mist a fine adhesive called “Soiltac” on ash on the property to prevent it from blowing away and to limit runoff. According to Soilworks’ website, Soiltac is a polymer product used to control dust; once sprayed over surfaces, the molecules coalesce and create a durable surface crust.

Calanog said the material is nontoxic and biodegradable. It has been approved by the state and county as part of multipronged effort with the U.S. Coast Guard, the state and the county to prevent ash runoff in the environment, the EPA news release said.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will take the lead during Phase 2, debris removal, which will be done safely and with the “utmost respect for the culture, the families and the history of these communities,” said Lt. Col. Ryan Pevey, the Honolulu District commander for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

He added that they will work with the state, county, federal agencies and the communities. During the debris removal phase, written consent will need to be obtained from the property owners, Pevey said.

As work continues in Lahaina, emergency officials are urging caution during dry, windy conditions and low humidity in the coming days. A fire weather watch will be in effect from noon today through 6 p.m. Thursday. County and state officials said they are on standby to respond.

Oliveira said messaging about the watch has already started, with the National Weather Service issuing information about the conditions.

“We will be deploying all of our tools to get messages, communication out and appreciate your help in getting that out,” Oliveira told the media during the news conference Tuesday.

Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara of the state Department of Defense said they have positioned a CH-47 Chinook helicopter with a 2,000-gallon water bucket on Maui. Other aircraft are on standby for the entire state if needed, Hara said. Members of the National Guard may be positioned in high-risk areas.

Maui Fire Chief Brad Ventura also said the department is increasing staffing on the west side and in the central valley.

As the land search for victims nears the end, Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said Tuesday that the FBI was searching in the waters off Lahaina, marking the last one percent of the physical search for victims, he said.

Pelletier said that no human remains have been found during the water searches.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said Tuesday afternoon that a trio from the FBI’s Underwater Search and Evidence Response Team began probing waters off Lahaina aboard the DLNR’s boat, Kai ‘Aiki.

The team is using specialized equipment to pick up any belongings or identifiable items to assist in the continuing effort to identify victims.

Expert divers from the U.S. Navy also were concluding their two-day mission at the same time, a DLNR news release said. Maui Fire Department personnel finished searching the coastline areas late last week.

Pelletier said during the news conference that authorities expect to release an updated “credible list” of missing people on Friday. Last week, a list of 388 individuals was released.

Since then, there have been more than 200 responses to the FBI email address where people can send information to help find or clear individuals on the list. To contact the FBI regarding the list, call (808) 566-4300 or email [email protected].

Authorities on Tuesday continued to ask the public to provide DNA samples to identify missing people as well as victims. This can be done at the Family Assistance Center at the Hyatt Regency at 200 Nohea Kai Dr. in Kaanapali.

As of Tuesday, the death toll remained at 115.

* Staff Writer Melissa Tanji can be reached at [email protected].

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

The Hawaii State Bar Association is offering a free disaster legal assistance hotline for residents impacted by the ...

The ALTRES Foundation launched an online jobs portal Monday to help unemployed Maui workers affected by the recent ...

The Maui News The Maui Police Department identified three more victims of the Aug. 8 wildfire in Lahaina on ...

The Maui News Henry Kapono and other well-known local artists will perform at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center ...