DOD and EPA Fight Over Military Base Cleanup
Three military bases in the United States are caught in the middle of a battle between the Department of Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency about toxic waste cleanup. The EPA is concerned that the chemical waste found at the three bases - Tyndall AFB in Florida, McGuire AFB in New Jersey and Fort Meade in Maryland - pose a substantial threat to the environment and nearby residents. The Pentagon has refused to follow the law and abide by the EPA's cleanup orders.
Senators from all three states have demanded that the Pentagon answer as to why it is refusing to do the clean-ups. In addition, Senators Menendez, Lautenberg and Nelson have asked the Government Accounting Office to investigate the Pentagon's non-compliance.
Tyndall AFB was added to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) in 1997 when toxins were found in Fred Bayou. DDT, arsenic, chlordane,,vinyl chloride, chromium , barium and trichloroethylene (TCE) have been found in the soil and groundwater at the base.
McGuire AFB was put on the list in1999 after finding PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), pesticides, jet fuel and TCE, a carcinogen noted for seeping into ground water.
Fort Meade was added in 1998 after finding solvents, PCBs, heavy metals, waste oils and fuels.
Senator Menendez said: “People who happen to live near a military base must be given the peace of mind that the ground they walk on and the water they drink is free of toxic, cancer-causing chemicals. It seems that the Department of Defense is trying to avoid its cleanup responsibilities or is more interested in winning a Washington turf battle than the health of our citizens, and that is simply outrageous. We need an official investigation as well as direct answers from the Secretary of Defense to better explain exactly why residents of New Jersey and elsewhere are being put at risk.”
