County begins clearing lava near transfer station

Lava rock left by the June 27 lava flow is being cleared from the Pahoa solid waste transfer station this week as Hawaii County prepares for the facilitys reopening March 1.

Lava poured through the transfer stations fence last November and pooled on a driveway used by garbage trucks along its perimeter before stalling.

It left more than 800 cubic yards of rock behind, which crews from Loeffler Construction are breaking apart and hauling to a quarry.

Bobby Jean Leithead Todd, county Environmental Management director, said that work will involve at least 40 truckloads and should be complete in the next few days, with some of the rock being left for landscaping and other features.

We are going to build a couple of small walls around a few of the plants, and were going to use some of it just as a feature, she said.

Lava that flowed down an embankment will be left untouched as long as it doesnt interfere with the facilitys operation.

The county estimated it will cost between $85,000 and $100,000 to reopen the transfer station, Leithead Todd said.

That cost might increase slightly since lava destroyed more asphalt than initially expected, she said. Repaving could cost between $30,000 and $60,000.

The contract for removing the lava rock is for $8,500. The county received four bids, Leithead Todd said.

In addition to paving and removing rock, she said a large water tank needs to be re-installed, electricity needs to be reconnected, and other minor repairs need to be made.

Here is the original post:
County begins clearing lava near transfer station