Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Navy, Guam Shipyard fined for storing hazardous waste at Apra Harbor (June)

Navy, Guam Shipyard fined for storing hazardous waste at Apra Harbor

Posted: Jun 22, 2016 2:18 PMUpdated: Jun 29, 2016 2:18 PM
The US Environmental Protection Agency has fined both the US Navy and the Guam Industrial Services - the Guam Shipyard - for hazardous waste storage violations at Apra Harbor. According to USEPA Region IX press officer Dean Higuchi, inspections between 2012 and 2014 found hazardous material at the site including flammable liquid, battery acid, lead paint, zinc powder, and batteries.
"Guam Shipyard, which operated the facility where the violations occurred, will pay a penalty of over $44,000 and the Navy will pay over $80,000 to settle the violations," he explained.
In addition to the fines Guam Shipyard will spend $250,000 to $330,000 to remove an abandoned vessel on the shoreline of the outer part of the Piti Channel.
Higuchi said all hazardous waste has now been properly managed. He reminds the public that hazardous material should be properly disposed of to ensure the safety of our environment and the community.
The Navy issued the following statement: "The Navy has voluntarily entered into an agreement with the U.S. EPA concerning site conditions at the former shipyard facility on Naval Base Guam. The conditions arose during Guam Shipyard's control of the facility under various real estate instruments. As the landowner, the Navy took prompt action to address all environmental concerns and agreed to a  settlement with U.S. EPA. The Navy remains committed to being a benchmark environmental steward and continually seeks to improve the environmental compliance of contractors conducting operations on Navy property."

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