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Posted: Friday, February 8th, 2013 5:42 AM HST

Hawaii offers grants for tsunami debris removal

By Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii is offering $100,000 in grants to people with proposals for removing ocean trash, particularly debris generated by tsunamis that hit Japan in 2011. The state Department of Health said Thursday it's seeking proposals from individuals, community groups, nonprofit organizations and others. It says the proposals should focus on geographic areas of Hawaii that typically have the most marine debris. March 8 is the deadline for proposals. The grants are funded by $50,000 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and matching money from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. NOAA last year gave Hawaii and four other states a total of $250,000 to help with tsunami debris removal. A blue plastic bin, a small boat and other debris from the tsunamis have shown up in Hawaii.