By T.D. Flack Stars and Stripes, April 29, 2011

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan — After more than six weeks of work, Misawa base residents are tackling their last major cleanup project along the tsunami-battered Japanese coast.

A small contingent from the 35th Civil Engineers Squadron, along with a group of Navy Seabees, started working in Tanohata on Wednesday, using dump trucks and front-end loaders to move more than 100 tons of debris out of the village. On Monday, the first of six overnight trips of 35 volunteers each will depart Misawa to help clear smaller debris there.

But the volunteer efforts — which included more than 60 “missions” and 29,000 man-hours of free labor — are nearing an end. There are fewer volunteer opportunities now, because the Japanese government released its annual budget earlier this month and the “money is now flowing” for cities to hire contractors, according to Master Sgt. Chris Burch, who had led the Misawa efforts.

FULL STORY:
http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/earthquake-disaster-in-japan/tsunami-relief-missions-coming-to-an-end-for-misawa-volunteer-program-1.142261