11/30/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/30/2023 17:14
EPA's Phase 1 completion is a major step towards debris removal and the rebuilding of Lāhainā and upcountry communities
November 30, 2023
LAHAINA, MAUI - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has completed its work under Phase 1 of the federal response to the wildfires in Lahaina and upcountry communities on Maui.
"The deadly wildfires on Maui caused catastrophic damage and destruction to homes, businesses, and significant cultural and historic resources," said EPA Incident Commander Chris Myers. "EPA has been honored to join other federal agencies, the State of Hawaii, the County of Maui, local organizations, and Maui residents and elders to help begin the long road to recovery."
EPA completed removal of hazardous materials from the fire impacted areas in Lahaina, Kula and Olinda. EPA conducted this work under a mission assignment from FEMA for the Maui wildfire response. Since August 17, EPA and its contractors, half of whom were hired locally, with assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard, and in coordination with the County of Maui, Hawaii Department of Health, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed the following:
To observe and protect important cultural resources and practices on Maui, EPA developed and implemented a cultural monitoring program. The program included hiring more than 20 cultural monitors to oversee work in the field; mandatory cultural awareness training for all EPA staff, contractors, and U.S. Coast Guard support personnel; and cultural advising to inform EPA's community involvement program. Each day, before and after work in the burn zones, a pule, or Hawaiian prayer and blessing, was held with field crews. This cultural monitoring will be continued during the next phase of the cleanup.
The fires also damaged or destroyed underground drinking water and wastewater pipelines and above-ground pumping stations. EPA's work includes a mission assignment from FEMA to support the County of Maui Departments of Water Supply and Environmental Management to address water infrastructure damaged by the fires. The EPA will continue to provide expertise throughout drinking water and wastewater recovery efforts.
While EPA's mission to remove household hazardous material from burned properties and lithium-ion batteries from vehicles and power walls is finished, EPA's work will continue on Maui, coordinating with the County on infrastructure repair and restoration and planning for the sustainable recovery in Lahainaand the fire-impacted areas.
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