US Federal government to investigate state's damaging of coral reef off Maui

Associated Press, Star Bulletin 21 Dec 09;

WAILUKU The state's accidental dropping of concrete blocks on live coral will be investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Dan Polhemus, administrator of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Aquatic Resources, said the department requested the federal investigation so the inquiry would be independent.

The department sank 1,400 one-ton concrete blocks off Keawakapu, Maui, on Dec. 2 to enhance an existing artificial reef. But it reported the next day that some of the slabs had fallen on live coral.

Last week, Polhemus said it appears about 50 of the slabs were dropped on the reef, while the rest fell on sand.

The department's artificial reef program has been temporarily halted.

See also "Concrete blocks dropped on live reef in Maui" Federal agencies to probe reef damage, Slabs ‘destroyed’ live coral Ilima Loomis, Maui News 20 Dec 09