5 sites studied for ‘contamination’

5 sites studied for ‘contamination’

Friday, 27 November 2009 03:26 by Jude Lizama | Variety News Staff

THE draft environmental impact statement for the Guam military buildup identifies at least five active and inactive military training grounds that are being assessed for potential contamination.

As part of the inventory process, the Department of Defense is coordinating with Guam Environmental Protection Agency to conduct preliminary assessments and site inspections of “areas of concern” on Guam.

Currently identified munitions response areas include Naval Magazine Small Arms Range, Spanish Steps Skeet and Trap Ranges, Orote Point Rifle and Pistol Range, Naval Computer and Telecommunications Main Station Finegayan Skeet Range, and Naval Computer and Telecommunications Main Station Small Arms Range.

The Environmental Data Resources, Inc.’s report used to identify local hazardous substance waste sites was also used to locate munitions response areas.

“Since the EDR database reports did not provide exact addresses of sites, only zip codes, the identification of potential contamination sites heavily relied on the field review” conducted in March and April of 2008 and March of 2009 by Parsons Brinckerhoff, according to the draft impact study.

Field review

The field review was conducted “to verify locations of potential contamination sites identified in previous reports, and to identify other potential contamination sites not included in previous studies,” according to the impact report.

Parsons Brinckerhoff project team surveyed accessible properties to identify potential contamination and possible contamination risks to roadway right-of-way and potential construction activities.

Response team

The draft study made references to the Military Munitions Response Program, established in 2001 under the 1986 Defense Environmental Restoration Program.

The draft environmental impact statement explained processes for its own “Munitions Response Program” for the island’s military buildup.

The impact study cited that the response program was designed to “address hazards associated with munitions and explosives of concern within areas no longer used for operational range activities.”

Inventory

The 2001 National Defense Authorization Act requires DOD to develop a primary inventory of areas not located within operational ranges, regardless if they are active or inactive, known or suspected to contain “munitions or explosives of concern.”

Additionally, potential contamination sites at DOD lands adjacent to the proposed improvements were “observed and documented from the roadway ROW,” and aside from sites within or near DOD lands, “site photographs were obtained from potential petroleum and hazardous material sites that would be adjacent to proposed roadway improvements.”