HONOLULU (KHON2) — Trucks began to transfer approximately 400,000 tons of Lahaina wildfire debris from the Olowalu Temporary Debris Storage (TDS) site to the Permanent Disposal Site (PDS) adjacent to the Central Maui Landfill in Puʻunēnē.
Up to 50 trucks identified by “Lahaina Wildfire Debris” decals will make multiple round trips daily. The work is estimated to take five months.
For the safety of work crews at both sites, no night operations will occur.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) and Maui County evaluated the debris cleared from 1,538 residential and commercial properties in Lahaina to pose no public health risk in its transport and placement at the PDS.
To mitigate direct exposure to workers and the public during debris handling and transport, debris will be lightly wetted before being loaded into trucks and wrapped in thick plastic sheeting.
Motorists traveling to and from West Maui are advised to plan for slower-than-usual traffic and to drive safely by not passing or tailgating debris-hauling trucks.
A portion of the 19-mile primary hauling route uses former cane haul roads to minimize the impact on traffic. Alternate routes have been identified along State and County roads for emergency hauling operations in the event of a temporary road closure.
The public is advised that access to the active construction sites of TDS and PDS is restricted to authorized personnel only.
More information, including Frequently Asked Questions, a map of the hauling route and the TDS-PDS Transfer & Closure Plan, is available HERE. The USACE Debris Hotline is (877) 214-9117.