Updated at 5:12 p.m., Thursday, January 4, 2007
Coast Guard finishes cleanup off Ni'ihau
Advertiser Staff
The cleanup of diesel, propane, batteries, refrigerant and other hazardous materials from a damaged fishing boat that ran aground near the southeast point of Ni'ihau was completed yesterday, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.Pacific Environmental Corp. used a helicopter with a sling to move nine batteries, two refrigerant cylinders, a propane cylinder and nearly 1,000 gallons of fuel to an off-shore barge. A U.S. Coast Guard site-safety supervisor on the barge ensured proper storage of the hazardous materials.
The barrels of waste were labeled and stowed safely in the barge's holding tanks. The barge was scheduled to arrive in Honolulu at 5:15 p.m.
The 44-foot fishing vessel Wahine Kepaloa II ran aground Dec. 29 off Ni'ihau.
The Coast Guard's Pacific Strike Team supervised the cleanup.
