The Maui News

Upcountry and West Maui homeowners impacted by the wildfires are encouraged to visit the resource area at the Kalana O Maui Building in Wailuku or the Disaster Recovery Center at the Lahaina Civic Center to learn more about the Debris Removal Program for impacted properties, two Maui County Council members said on Tuesday.

Resources at the two locations, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, are available to assist property owners with information regarding Phase 2 of the Debris Removal Program.

Resources are available Monday through Saturday at both locations, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Lahaina Civic Center, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kalana O Maui Building.

“In the aftermath of a wildfire disaster, there are many steps on the journey to recovery. The fire debris cleanup is a critical part of that journey and involves a phased approach that will require the coordination of local, state and federal partners,” said Councilmembers Yuki Lei Sugimura and Tamara Paltin in a joint statement.

Council Vice Chairwoman Sugimura holds the Upcountry residency seat and Paltin holds the West Maui residency seat.

Property owners will have the choice of opting into the County’s Debris Removal Program, coordinated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and supported by FEMA, or deciding to coordinate their own debris removal under the alternative program.

Bill 86, prepared by Mayor Richard Bissen’s administration and currently pending approval by the County Council, will serve as an initial step in defining the process for property owners who choose to remove fire debris under the alternative program. The bill establishes standards and procedures for the removal of hazardous waste, fire debris, and hazardous trees from properties damaged or destroyed in the August 2023 Maui wildfires.

The County Council is preparing to take final action on Bill 86, at 9 a.m. Thursday at a special council meeting. For more information see www.mauicounty.us. Click on “news.”

If a property owner chooses to remove debris on their own, their contractor must be specialized in hazardous and toxic material recovery and removal and must follow stringent health and safety standards, said Sugimura and Paltin.

If Bill 86 is approved on Thursday, the council and administration will then need to work together to approve the requirements of the alternative program to further define the debris removal process, a news release said.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been tasked with coordinating Phase 2 of the debris removal program, in coordination with multiple partner agencies. Fillable Right-of-Entry forms are also available at www.mauirecovers.org/recovery/debrisremoval.

More information is also available at www.mauirecovers.org/recovery-recovery-phases.