Feds focus on water-debris removal

[ccharles000]

(AP) — HOUMA, La. - Coast Guard crews have begun work to remove 42 boats that have littered some south Louisiana bayous since the 2005 hurricanes.

The work in the Terrebonne Parish area is part of a $232.6 million marine-debris removal program funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. And it's not just a matter of plunking the sunken vessels from the water.

Jack Gardner, a geographic-information-systems manager for the parish, said the boats have been decaying for more than four years and must be carefully inspected for hazardous materials before they're dismantled, piece by piece.

Some boaters say the debris has become less of an issue over time, as it's settled. But there are others who are glad to see the cleanup under way.

This isn't a brand-new effort; crews in August 2007 finished a yearlong sweep of major area bayous that resulted in some boats being removed. But hurricanes Gustav and Ike last year filled area bayous with tons more debris-and more boats. Removal work from those storms is still continuing.

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