Dive Brief:
- Hawaii County, HI, is attempting to get a transfer station back in operation after it was damaged by lava from the Kilauea volcano in November 2014; the facility was shuttered in October as a precaution.
- Lava reached the Pahoa Recycling and Transfer Station, as it flowed through a fence, where it eventually hardened on a service road used for transporting waste.
- It is expected to cost an estimated $100,000 to get the station back in working condition.
Dive Insight:
The work that needs to be completed at the facility, such as breaking up and removing 1,000 cubic yards of lava rock, is anticipated to last until the end of February. The repaired station is expected to re-open on March 1.
The lava, however, is still flowing into the county, prompting the mayor to declare another state of emergency on Jan. 30, which will be in effect for an additional 60 days. Officials said it is possible that lava could damage the transfer station again.
