Tag: Pohakuloa

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Pohakuloa Radiation Hearings

Last night several of us attended the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) public informational meeting in Wahiawa related to DU contamination in Lihu’e (Schofield) and the Army’s application for an NRC license to “possess” the DU material.   The presentations were informative about the regulatory functions of the NRC.  But is was frustrating to learn the limited authority (or political will) of this regulatory agency to impose stronger restrictions on the Army.  And more shocking was how nonchalant their attitude was about the hazard in Hawai’i.  When questions were raised about potential hazards of conducting training activities in an area contaminated with DU, one NRC panel member basically said that the NRC doesn’t agree that there is a risk.  I was blown away. This is supposed to be an independent regulatory body?

NRC documents related to this docket can be accessed at:

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams/web-based.html

  • Select “Begin ADAMS search”
  • Select “Advanced Search”
  • Enter Docket Number “04009083”

Comments on the Army’s license application can be sent to:

John Hayes
US Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Two White Flint North, Mail Stop T8F5
11545 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852-1738

Telephone (301) 415-5928
Fax: (301) 415-5369
Email: john.hayes@nrc.gov

DEADLINE to request a hearing is October 13, 2009.

Jim Albertini sent out this call to attend Nuclear Regulatory Commission public meetings in Kona and Hilo.   Anyone on the Big Island, please come out to demand a halt to training activities in the contaminated areas and the clean up of the DU and the hundreds of other military toxics in Hawai’i!

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Pohakuloa Radiation Hearings

Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009 Time: 6 – 8:30 PM

Place: King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel


Thursday, Aug. 27th Time: 6 – 8:30 PM

Place: Hilo High School Cafeteria

Come out and express your concern for the health and safety of the people and the aina.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will be holding hearings in Hilo and Kona this week on Depleted Uranium (DU) radiation at the l33,000-acre Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA), located on so-called ceded lands — Kingdom of Hawaii occupied/stolen lands. The Army is seeking a license from the NRC to allow the radiation from weapons training to remain in place. That’s the Army’s polite way of saying it wants a formal OK to do what it has already done — establish a radiation waste dump in an active bombing range in the heart of Hawaii Island.

Some background: It has been confirmed that hundreds, perhaps over 2,000, Depleted Uranium (DU) spotting rounds have been fired at PTA for just one weapon system — the Davy Crockett back in the l960s. Davy Crockett DU rounds were also fired on Oahu at Schofield Barracks, possibly Makua Valley and elsewhere in Hawaii. The Army disclosed it also fired Davy Crockett DU rounds at several locations in at least 9 other states and three foreign countries. Other DU rounds from many other weapon systems may have been fired over the past 40 years at PTA and other sites in Hawaii, since the number and types of DU munitions in the U.S. arsenal has increased dramatically.

Ongoing live-fire at PTA (millions of rounds annually) risks spreading the DU radiation already present. DU is particularly hazardous when small burned oxidized particles are inhaled. The Hawaii County Council, more than a year ago, on July 2, 2008, called for a halt to all live-fire and other activities at PTA that create dust until there is an assessment and clean up of the DU already present. 7 additional needed actions have also been noted by the Council. The military has ignored the Council and continues live-fire and other dust creating activities at PTA, putting the residents of Hawaii Island at risk, since no comprehensive testing has been completed.

It is now up to the people to sound the alarm. Seize this opportunity to speak up now, not only for your own safety but for our keiki and the aina, and for generations to come. Isn’t it time for the State of Hawaii to cancel the military’s land lease at Pohakuloa. Pohakuloa was never meant to be a nuclear waste dump. Mahalo.

Malu `Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box AB Kurtistown, Hawai`i 96760.
Phone (808) 966-7622. Email ja@interpac.net http://www.malu-aina.org

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Nuclear Regulatory Commission public meetings on Depleted Uranium in Hawai’i

NRC public meetings on Army’s DU permit application

August 24th, 1:00 pm

Hawaii Army National Guard’s Wahiawa Armory 487 FA, at 77-230 Kamehameha Highway in Mililani

August 25th, 6 – 8:30 pm

Wahiawa District Park – Hale Koa Nutrition Site, 1139 Kilani Ave., in Wahiawa

August 26th, 6 – 8:30 p.m.

King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel, 75-5660 Palani Road, Kailua-Kona

August 27th, 6 – 8:30 p.m.

Hilo High School, 556 Waianuenue Ave., in Hilo

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http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/news/2009/09-135.html

NRC NEWS
U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Office of Public Affairs
Telephone: 301/415-8200
Washington, DC 20555-0001
E-mail: OPA.Resource@nrc.gov
www.nrc.gov

No. 09-135 August 17, 2009

NRC ANNOUNCES HEARING OPPORTUNITY, PUBLIC MEETINGS IN
HAWAII ON U.S. ARMY DEPLETED URANIUM MUNITIONS

Printable Version PDF Icon

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued a notice of opportunity to request a hearing on a license application from the U.S. Army for possession of depleted uranium at two installations in Hawaii where depleted uranium remains from munitions training during the 1960s.

Enough depleted uranium remains on the sites to require an NRC possession license and environmental monitoring and physical security programs to ensure protection of the public and the environment.

NRC staff will hold public meetings in Oahu on Aug. 24 and 25, in Kona on Aug. 26 and Hilo on Aug. 27, to explain how the agency will review the Army’s license application and – if the license is subsequently granted – monitor and enforce the license to ensure there is no danger to public health and safety or the environment. Finally, the agency is requesting public comment on the Army’s plan.

In the 1960s, the Army used M101 spotting rounds made with depleted uranium in training soldiers with the Davy Crockett recoilless gun. The M101 rounds were used at proving grounds at Schofield Barracks on Oahu and the Pohakuloa Training Area on the Island of Hawaii until 1968. Fragments of expended rounds remain on the ground in impact areas of those training ranges.

Following a site visit to Schofield Barracks on Aug. 24, NRC staff will conduct a meeting with Army representatives at the Hawaii Army National Guard’s Wahiawa Armory 487 FA, at 77-230 Kamehameha Highway in Mililani, beginning at 1 p.m. This meeting will be primarily for Army officials to discuss their monitoring plans for managing the depleted uranium. Members of the public are welcome to attend and will have a chance to talk with NRC staff after the business portion of the meeting but before the meeting adjourns.

NRC staff will brief the public on the agency’s license review process on Aug. 25 from 6 – 8:30 p.m. at the Wahiawa District Park – Hale Koa Nutrition Site, 1139 Kilani Ave., in Wahiawa. Similar meetings will be held Aug. 26 from 6 – 8:30 p.m. at the King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel, 75-5660 Palani Road, Kailua-Kona, and Aug. 27 from 6 – 8:30 p.m. at the Hilo High School, 556 Waianuenue Ave., in Hilo.

To request an adjudicatory hearing on this application, potential parties must demonstrate standing by showing how the proposed license might affect them. They must also raise at least one admissible contention challenging the license application. Guidance on how to file a petition for a hearing is contained in a Notice of License Application and Opportunity for Hearing, published Aug. 13 in the Federal Register and available online at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-19449.pdf.

The deadline for requesting a hearing is Oct. 13. Members of the public may submit comments on the Army’s application until that date as well, to the NRC project manager, John J. Hayes, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Mail Stop T8-F5, Washington, D.C., 20055-0001, or by e-mail at John.Hayes@nrc.gov.

The Army license application and associated documents, including the environmental monitoring and physical security plans and site characterization studies, are available through the NRC’s ADAMS online documents database at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams/web-based.html by entering these accession numbers: ML090070095, ML091950280, ML090900423 and ML091170322.

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Army report says DU at Pohakuloa not a threat

Updated at 11:19 a.m., Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Depleted uranium at Pohakuloa no threat to public, Army report says

By Nancy Cook Lauer
West Hawaii Today

HILO – A preliminary study completed by the military earlier this month finds no threat to the public from depleted uranium at the Pohakuloa Training Area.

The study is part of a U.S. Army licensing application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a site-specific environmental radiation monitoring plan. Public hearings are planned for next month and then there will be a comment period before a safe-handling license is issued.

So far, only three pieces of the radioactive material have been found at Pohakuloa and it is believed that the remainder, if there was any, likely fell into the cracks in the lava, the report says.

Environmentalists, however, remain skeptical.

Sierra Club member Cory Harden says she’d like to see the military experts in a forum that includes other scientists who may dispute their findings, such as Maui resident Dr. Lorrin Pang, a former Army doctor and World Health Organization consultant and Mike Reimer, a Kona resident who served 10 years as head of research at the School of Mines in Golden, Colo., after a 25-year stint on a uranium project with the U.S. Geological Service.

“The Army is prepared to say there’s no significant harm from the DU, but they’re not prepared to back it up in a public forum, and that concerns me,” Harden said.

The Army suspected DU at Pohakuloa after research stemming from the 2005 discovery of the munitions at Schofield Barracks on Oahu led to records showing that 714 spotting rounds for the now obsolete Davy Crockett weapons systems were shipped to Hawaii sometime in the early 1960s.

The Hawaii County Council last year passed a nonbinding resolution requesting the military halt live-fire training exercises at PTA until it was determined if depleted uranium was there. The Army, however, has not stopped exercises.

Howard Sugai, chief public affairs officer for the Army’s Pacific region, said the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will help the Army establish procedures to deal with the DU.

“They will establish the guidelines,” Sugai said. “The NRC will issue us the policies, the procedures, the protocols on which we manage depleted uranium on our ranges.”

The Army’s monitoring plan must characterize conditions at each site where depleted uranium has been found and identify possible exposure pathways, changes in site use and any off-range migration of DU to the surrounding environment.

The Army document says a baseline human health risk assessment wasn’t completed because so little DU has been found at the site, and air and soil samples don’t show elevated levels of radiation.

“To this point, the Army has only found three DU rounds at PTA. This is not surprising given the geological conditions at the site,” the July 8 report says. “If any significant quantity of DU was fired at PTA, it is expected to have quickly migrated through the pahoehoe and aa basalt flows and is no longer detectable at the surface.”

Reimer said the migration theory “made me giggle.”

“On the basis of that study, they can’t come to that conclusion,” Reimer said. “That document they sent to the NRC I think was extremely superficial and often contradictory.”

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission plans to take public comments at meetings on Oahu on Aug. 24 and in Hilo and Kona on Aug. 27. The agency will then publish a notice in the Federal Register, giving the public 60 days to submit comments in writing.

Officials said they still don’t know the extent of the DU ordnance used on the island, but said such munitions are not being used currently, nor is there a plan to. The research is tedious because records are not easily accessible, but the work continues, they said.

Experts with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the state Department of Health and the University of Hawaii, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Office of Army Safety have said the radiation is low enough to make risks to the public and environment extremely unlikely.

Measurements have ranged from 3 to 9 micro-R – low-level gamma radiation – an hour, which is considered safe background radiation coming from natural sources, according to the military. In comparison, radiation must reach 2,000 micro-R an hour before it is considered “actionable,” and the Health Department gets people out of the area.

But some Big Island residents who have attended meetings on the issue are not ready to take the military at face value. Even the number of rounds that may have been fired at PTA has been unclear.

“I certainly hope the NRC can pin this stuff down,” Harden said.

Source: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090729/BREAKING01/90729058/-1/RSS01?source=rss_breaking

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“Hazards of military Depleted Uranium” the topic of webcast

The activists from Moku o Keawe (Hawai’i island) are organizing a webcast of an interview with Dr. Lorrin Pang on the hazards of depleted uranium contamination.  Here’s an excerpt from an email from Jim Albertini:

The Hazards of military Depleted Uranium (DU) in Hawaii will be the topic of the Big Island Live Broadcasting Network (BILB) as it launches its premier broadcast via the internet on www.bigislandlive.com. 5:00 – 6:00 PM, Saturday, August 1st. There will be a live interview with the state’s leading authority on Depleted Uranium (DU), Dr. Lorrin Pang, MD. The public and press will have the unique opportunity to ask Dr. Pang questions and become more educated about DU found at the Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island. The live show will be aired on www.bigislandlive.com and phone calls with questions will be taken at (808) 987-8610.

Depleted Uranium, and its hazard to the residents of Hawaii, has been an issue for the last four years since its discovery on Oahu. In July, 2008, the Hawaii County Council passed Resolution # 639-08 calling for the Army to halt all live-fire training on the Big Island until there is an assessment and clean up of the depleted uranium already present. The military has never stopped live-fire exercises and refused attempts by the state’s leading authorities to be involved in the DU testing/assessment. DU expert, Dr. Pang, states that the type of testing being done up on the mountain would not show the presence of the type of DU that would be a threat and further testing is necessary to truly assess the risk factor on the mountain. To watch a short trailer of the interview, follow this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beZZoCanpm0 BILB Network programming will be aired on the internet, cable-TV and on Public Access stations throughout the state.

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Depleted Uranium Meetings planned in Hawai’i

PRESS RELEASE
Contact person: Ms. Cory Harden

Sierra Club, Moku Loa group
PO Box 1137
Hilo, Hawaii 96721
808-968-8965 mh@interpac.net
http://www.hi.sierraclub.org/Hawaii/mokuloa.html

Immediate Release

DEPLETED URANIUM MEETINGS PLANNED

FEDERAL ACTIONS QUESTIONED

May 14, 2009, Hilo, Hawai’i

As the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) plans meetings in Hawai’i on a depleted uranium (DU) license for the Army, DU studies at Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) are being questioned, and the NRC and another agency involved in studies have come under fire.

“…[W]hat is proposed by the U.S. Army for future studies at PTA will fall far short of providing the best information possible at this time”, said Dr. Mike Reimer, PhD, a Kona geologist, in a March letter to Army Colonel Howard Killian. “…[T]he study design…may present itself as a feel-good approach, but it is unfortunately misleading…” he adds. Reimer’s background includes chairing the environmental radioactivity section for special meetings within the American Nuclear Society; doing radiation-site contamination evaluations in Eastern Europe; and serving as guest editor for the Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry.

Dr. Lorrin Pang, a WHO consultant, said “Those in charge of the [DU] assessment…do not adequately address the… form of the material, the routes of exposure, distribution in the body of non-soluble vs. soluble compounds, target organs, nor the variations in half-life and clearance from the body…”, in a March e-mail. He added, “…their own referral agencies and advisors on this topic were those whose science was so flawed that they missed diagnosing the existence of Gulf War syndrome… the survey testing…will miss all large remnants of Spotter rounds…The surveys lack controls…to evaluate the specificity and sensitivity of the tests as well as control sites to compare to background radiation levels…The sampling scheme…is very subjective and hard to interpret…” Dr. Pang is a former Army doctor and has been listed in America’s Best Doctors. He is also director of Maui Department of Health, but speaks on DU as a private citizen.

But an Army handout says “DU present on Hawai’i’s ranges does not pose an imminent or immediate threat to human health”.

“To evaluate conflicting views, we invited the Army to participate in a forum with Dr. Reimer and Dr. Pang,” said Cory Harden of Sierra Club, Moku Loa group, “but it appears it will be several months before the Army is prepared to back up its conclusions in a forum.”

Elsewhere, actions of both NRC and another agency involved with the PTA studies–Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)–have been criticized.

The NRC’s recent decision to classify DU as Class A waste was called an “arbitrary and capricious mischaracterization” by the chair and a member of a Congressional Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment, who added that “requirements for safe and secure disposal of depleted uranium are much greater than what is required for Class A waste.”

The ATSDR was criticized for using “flawed methods to investigate depleted uranium exposures” in New York State and refusing “to acknowledge a link between a cancer cluster in Pennsylvania and environmental contamination despite persuasive evidence”. The criticism came from witnesses testifying recently to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology, Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight.

Earlier, the Subcommittee said ATSDR’s “scientifically-flawed” report and “botched response resulted in tens of thousands of survivors of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita remaining in travel trailers laden with high levels of formaldehyde” and there was “a concerted and continuing effort by the agency‘s leadership to both mask their own involvement…and to push the blame…down the line”.

“We urge the public to watch for the NRC meeting dates,” said Harden, ” then show up and insist that recommendations from Dr. Reimer and Dr. Pang be written into the Army DU license. ”

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Pohakuloa Depleted Uranium studies “fall far short”

The Sierra Club Moku Loa chapter has been doing excellent work bird dogging the Army over its handling of the DU contamination at Pohakuloa.   Cory Harden posted the following letter and attached review of the Army’s studies by an independent scietist.

“I am particularly concerned that what is proposed by the U.S. Army for future studies at PTA will fall far short of providing the best information possible at this time, or for that matter, provide any information that can be used to develop a real rather than a speculative risk assessment.” From Mike Reimer, PhD, Kona geologist, retired

Michael Reimer
75-6081 Ali`i Drive RR-103
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
March 6, 2009

Colonel Howard Killian, Deputy Director
U.S. Army Installation Management Command
Pacific Region
132 Yamanaga Street
Fort Shafter, Hawaii 96858-5520

Dear Colonel Killian:

I have had an opportunity to review the reports released from DU studies at Schofield Barracks and Pohakuloa Training Area. I also spoke with Dr. Lorrin Pang, some members of the Community Advisory Group, and met contractor Dr. Jeff Morrow.

I agree with your statement that you mentioned in a previous communication we had, and that is to let the science speak.

In that light, I am particularly concerned that what is proposed by the U.S. Army for future studies at PTA will fall far short of providing the best information possible at this time, or for that matter, provide any information that can be used to develop a real rather than a speculative risk assessment.

DU is an issue of evolving study results and knowledge. There are some points that are immutable fact. We know that DU is present at Schofield and Pohakuloa. As I recall, the Army does not dispute the point of potential health risk. Therefore, we must take the best information we obtain today and use it to address the concerns about the level of health risks from potential exposure to DU.

The citizens of the Big Island are concerned. This is a natural, often fearful, reaction anytime the word radiation is mentioned in our society. Yet, we live in a world with ubiquitous and unavoidable natural radiation, from cosmic rays to the foodstuffs that provide our sustenance. According to the position of the U.S. EPA, any and all ionizing radiation has the potential of causing cancer. Thus, there has to be a reasoned balance between unavoidable exposure and elective exposure.

The past use of DU on the Big Island places exposure to that type of radioactive material in the “unavoidable exposure” category. This brings forth the question then of how much additional risk does it pose to the people of the Big Island including the military personnel stationed and working at Pohakuloa.

I believe that with adequate study, this question can be answered with reasonable assurance. As I mentioned, I do not believe the currently planned study has the capacity to answer that question. The reason for my belief is that the study design is to measure total uranium and to show that it is below standards set by World Agencies for regulated exposures. This may present itself as a feel-good approach, but it is unfortunately misleading even with the rudimentary information we have today about the form and occurrence of uranium in the natural environment. In other words, the study as currently planned still leaves the door wide open on determining excess health risks, if any.
The attached commentary contains suggestions on what additional information could be collected to help determine the risk. It is fair to assume that the information about the use of DU is as accurate as it can be. That is, the only use was in the Davy Crockett spotting rounds, no use of penetrating munitions occurred, that is the 20mm or 30 mm rounds from various Gatling configurations, smaller caliber rounds, or larger caliber armor penetrating munitions. It assumes that DU does not remain from any breach of containment if used as ballast or armor reinforcement, or any other possible presentation of DU.

My comments are intended for a reasonably informed individual about DU issues; it is not overpoweringly technical but does use various standard abbreviations, chemical, isotopic, and radiological inferences and acronyms. For example, I use DU for depleted uranium and its various components, and natural uranium or NU for naturally occurring uranium. I am not suggesting that the uranium has a chemical, physical, or radiological difference. However, it is different in form and that is a significant difference for risk assessment. In addition, unless specifically mentioned, I do not separate radioactive decay into the three common particles, alpha, beta, and gamma radiation. Of special note is my use of the term “form” in describing uranium. Unlike the Hawaii Department of Health presentation (November 2007), I use form not to refer to the element uranium (and isotopes) but to describe its occurrence in a matrix – natural, alloy DU, or oxidized DU.

This is a commentary; it is not a formal, peer-reviewed technical report although it may in some instances give the appearance of a peer review for the program. I do not duplicate information that can be found elsewhere and except in unusual or compelling circumstances, I do not provide references. For detail not presented here, I am sure various contractors you have will be able to address and clarify the concepts more fully. However, I am also willing to further explain my commentary for those issues that might be seen as some in a gray area of meaning.

Sincerely,

Michael Reimer, Ph.D., geologist, retired
GeoMike5@att.net

Distribution: Sherry Davis, Corey Hardin, Hawaii County Council, Pete Hendricks, J. Morrow, Ph.D., L. Pang, M.D., LTC Richardson, S. Troute

Read Dr. Reimer’s full comments on the Army’s Pohakuloa Depleted Uranium study

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Protest and healing ceremony at Pohakuloa

Here’s a report from Jim Albertini, one of the organizers on Hawai’i island resisting further militarization.    They recently organized an action up at Pohakuloa.  You can also view a video covering both the Pro-Hawai’i/Pro-Peace protest and the Pro-war protest here.

POHAKULOA HEALING CEREMONY AND PROTEST

Aloha Kakou,

Approximately 50 Big Island residents gathered on Saturday, Jan. 3lst from l0AM till lPM at Mauna Kea Park, adjacent to the l33,000-acre military Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA). Troops were present at PTA but no live-fire was observed. The purpose of the gathering was twofold. First to conduct a healing ceremony for the ‘aina and second, to protest the ongoing military bombing, radiation contamination, desecration and occupation of the Hawai’i Kingdom. People brought ho’okupu (offerings) for the healing ceremony. Ali’i ai Moku, Paul Neves, of the Royal order of Kamehameha, brought his Halau who offered oli and hula as part of the ceremony. Kaliko Kanaele, a member of the Royal order and a long-time activist taught chants to those gathered about the importance of pulling together and bringing things to light. A number of people shared personal stories and thoughts on resistance. Protest signs at the gathering read: “Aloha ‘Aina –A Call to Action,” “Stop the Bombing,” “End U.S. Occupation,” “Make Peace–Work for Justice.” “The Kingdom Lives – Return Ceded Lands.” Throughout the gathering there was obvious military/police surveillance from vehicles in the park and adjacent military areas.

Throughout the ceremony and protest strong trade winds were blowing from Hilo so our gathering was fortunately upwind of the PTA base impact area. No above background readings were noted on several radiation monitors present unlike May 29, 2007 when winds were blowing directly off the PTA impact area toward Mauna Kea Park and citizen monitors recorded several spikes 4 times background levels.

People who came from Kona noted there was an American flag waving pro-war group of about 20 people at the PTA main gate area, located about l mile from Mauna Kea Park. Among those present was Andrew Walden, editor of the right wing now defunct Hawaii Free Press newspaper.

Following the healing ceremony, speakers, and a pani of shared food at Mauna Kea Park, several people carried the protest to the PTA main gate area. Protest signs were set up directly in front of the PTA main gate, across Saddle Road from the Pro-war demonstration. Ho’okupu from the healing ceremony were left on the triangle piece of land fronting the PTA main gate. Some exchange of thoughts took place across Saddle Rd, but all went peacefully.

The West Hawaii Today, Jan. 3lst newspaper ran an article saying that Army Col. Howard Killian will be giving a presentation to the Hawaii County Council Intergovernmental Relations Committee at l0:30AM on Tuesday, Feb. 3rd. on depleted uranium at the Pohakuloa Training Area. The article said, “the military recently completed tests to determine whether any of the material poses a threat to army personnel at PTA or residents. Although the tests won’t be made public until spring, military officials recently reported the tests determined no danger exists.”

This kind of statement about “no danger exists” is a military medical judgment. The military keeps repeating “no danger” with no data available for examination. We demand data on the radiation contamination, control data, etc. We want to know the extent of the radiation contamination and if DU penetrators have been used at PTA which we highly suspect. The military is trying to focus ONLY on DU Davy Crockett spotting rounds from the l960s. The military has a proven track record that it cannot be trusted to tell the truth.

JOIN IN A PROTEST AT THE COUNTY COUNCIL BUILDING 9:30 AM ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3RD TO CHALLENGE COL. KILLIAN ON HIS STATEMENTS OF ‘NO DANGER.’

Jim Albertini

Malu ‘Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action
P.O.Box AB
Kurtistown, Hawai’i 96760
phone: 808-966-7622
email: JA@interpac.net
Visit us on the web at: www.malu-aina.org

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Army continues to bomb Pohakuloa despite Council moratorium

http://westhawaiitoday.com/articles/2008/12/31/local/local04.txt

PTA live fire continues despite council

DU results pending

by Jim Quirk
West Hawaii Today
jquirk@westhawaiitoday.com

Wednesday, December 31, 2008 9:01 AM HST

HILO — Testing on depleted uranium levels at Pohakuloa Training Area is completed, and although the results will be unavailable until spring, the U.S. Army continues live fire exercises at PTA.

The Hawaii County Council last spring and summer debated Puna Councilwoman Emily Naeole’s resolution requesting the military halt live fire training exercises at PTA until it was determined if depleted uranium was there.

The resolution, however, did not carry the weight of law. It had no effect on military training at PTA, said Howard Sugai, public affairs officer with the military Installation Management Command.

“The Army could not jeopardize training and preparedness of soldiers,” he said.

Some of the radioactive material was discovered at PTA in 2006, and it was later determined it came from spotting rounds fired from Davy Crockett weapons systems in the 1960s.

Sugai said PTA played an essential part, as members of the Hawaii National Guard recently trained there to prepare for their deployment to Kuwait.

However, no training is taking place near areas suspected of containing depleted uranium, he said.

The nearest training to suspect areas is 3.1 miles away, Sugai said, adding only dummy bombs made of concrete are being used.

Sugai stressed “there is no imminent danger to any soldier training there or to residents in adjacent communities.”

He said the Army conducted a survey of the area where depleted uranium may exist in November and early December, but even that was accomplished in a way that did not require military personnel to walk or drive into the potentially affected area.

Technologically advanced survey equipment was carried via helicopter to areas possibly contaminated with depleted uranium, Sugai said.

Some council members and residents feared that some of the military exercises could help stir up any depleted uranium at PTA and contaminate the air.

Most people who testified on the resolution said they favored it, and the council approved it July 3.

Connecticut company Cabrera Services, which is “regarded as industry experts in remediation of radiation and other radioactive materials,” conducted testing, Sugai said.

Sugai said he and Army Col. Howard Killian anticipate attending a council meeting sometime in February to provide a further update on the depleted uranium survey.

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Call to Stop the Bombing of Pohakuloa

Jim Albertini of Malu ‘Aina issued the following statement calling on the military to honor the Hawai’i County Council resolution for a moratorium on live fire training at Pohakuloa, a site contaminated with depleted uranium.

A CITIZEN CALL TO ACTION

The military officially confirmed radiation contamination from weapons training at The Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) on Aug. 20, 2007 . The full extent of the contamination is not known but the military has refused to halt all live-fire until an assessment of the problem has been completed. PTA is located in the center of Moku O Keawe (Hawaii Island) and covers over l33,000-acres. For more than 50 years this sacred area between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea has been used for a wide range of live-fire target practice, from small arms to B-52 and B-2 bombing missions. Up to l4 million live-rounds are fired annually

On July 2, 2008 the Hawaii County Council passed Resolution 639-08 by a vote of 8-l that requests the military with urgency, to address the potential hazards of radiation at PTA with the following eight-point plan:
l. Order a complete halt to B-2 bombing missions and to all live firing exercises and other activities at the Pohakuloa Training Area that create dust until there is an assessment and clean up of the depleted uranium already present;
2. Establish a permanent, high-tech monitoring system with procedures to ensure air quality control;
3. Establish a citizen monitoring system to work closely with Military experts to assure transparency and community confidence;
4. Host quarterly meetings to update and inform the public;
5. Ensure permanent funds are available for the monitoring program;
6. Provide a liaison to the County of Hawaii to facilitate communication between the U.S. Military and the County of Hawaii;
7. Provide semi-annual reports to the Hawaii County Council summarizing depleted uranium monitoring, detection, and mitigation efforts; and
8. The U.S. Military shall conduct a search of all records for firing of Depleted Uranium at the Pohakuloa training Area and all other Hawaii State military sites and release pertinent information to the public…

To date, more than 4 months since this resolution has been passed, there has been NO action by the military to address any of the above 8 points. In fact it is quite insulting to hear military officers who are charged with protecting community health and safety comment that the county council’s call to action “is only a resolution,” and that stopping live-fire at PTA “is not going to happen.” This tells us that our community health and safety is secondary to military training. So who and what is the military defending?

If the military truly cared about community health and safety it would operate on the precautionary principle and halt all live-fire until the full extent of contamination was known. We suspect a lot more than one radiation weapon system called the Davy Crockett was used at PTA. The military has a major conflict of interest as investigator of the problem. It wants to continue live-fire. It does not want to risk finding additional radiation problems that may force shutting down the base.. That’s why we need independent testing and citizen involvement at all levels to assure transparency and community confidence. What appears to be happening is military stonewalling.

Stop the Bombing of Hawaii Island

1. Mourn all victims of violence. 2. Reject war as a solution. 3. Defend civil liberties. 4. Oppose all discrimination: anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, etc. 5. Seek peace through justice in Hawai`i and around the world.
Contact: Malu `Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box AB Ola`a (Kurtistown),
Hawai`i 96760. Phone (808) 966-7622 Email ja@interpac.net http://www.malu-aina.org
Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet (Nov. l4, 2008 – 374th week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office
—
Jim Albertini
Malu ‘Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action
P.O.Box AB
Kurtistown, Hawai’i 96760
phone: 808-966-7622
email: JA@interpac.net
Visit us on the web at: www.malu-ania.org

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