The practice of Open Burn (OB) and Open Detonation (OD) on the Andersen Air Force Base in Guam has received federal backlash in recent months. On August 6, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Guam Environmental Protection Agency (GEPA) sent a joint letter to Air Force officials to address the deficiencies of their current OB/OD permit renewal application.
The practice of OB/OD is used primarily by military institutions to destroy toxic military waste that is outdated or unable to be used. However, the practice has yielded widespread concern from environmental groups such as Earthjustice, who believe that the detrimental impact on the climate makes OB/OD a harmful procedure. Citing the release of toxic chemicals and heavy metals into the atmosphere and the consequent contamination of soil and water, Earthjustice senior associate Thien Chau takes a strong stance against OB/OD, saying to readers, “The law prohibits OB/OD of waste explosives when there are safe alternatives…It’s long past time for Guam EPA to deny the permit and put an end to open detonations on Tarague Beach.”
Additionally, potential health concerns for residents are a significant factor fueling the anti-OB/OD movement. Citing the elevated risk for toxic pollution that comes with open burning and detonation practices, Earthjustice states that, “OB/OD threatens the environment and human health as these practices result in the uncontrolled release of toxic contaminants — including lead, arsenic, and PFAS — directly into the air, soil, and water. OB/OD facilities collectively burn and detonate millions of pounds of munitions and other hazardous waste in the open air as part of their day-to-day operations.”
After reviewing Andersen Air Force Base’s renewal application submitted in 2021, the EPA and GEPA agreed that the proposal did not address essential components of Guam’s hazardous waste plan. Although the plan was deemed insufficient three years ago, the GEPA allowed the Air Force to continue OB/OD in the interim until the organizations formed a federal approach. Moreover, the EPA and GEPA’s decision to urge the Air Force to take action and revise their application is a significant step toward reform of harsh environmental practices in Guam. In effect, the renewal application must now be significantly altered to gain approval from the EPA and GEPA.
Environmental organizations on the island, such as Prutehi Litekyan: Save Ritidian, have lauded the letter and urged the Air Force to consider safer excess removal strategies to prevent permanent contaminants and potentially disease-inducing hazardous waste. Monaeka Flores, a member of Prutehi Litekyan: Save Ritidian said, “Our requests to meet with GEPA early on were ignored, and our concerns were dismissed by certain military and government officials as ‘sensationalist.’ This letter from both the Guam EPA and US EPA has finally validated our efforts and concerns. But this letter should have come three years ago to require the Air Force to evaluate safe alternatives and environmental impacts. Instead, we’ve continued to suffer the harms from open detonations.”
The Andersen Air Force Base has until September 20, 2024, to respond to calls to regulate the OD/OB program. The joint letter from the GEPA and EPA demands defined measures to prevent atmospheric and oceanic contamination, a more effective groundwater monitoring system, and a revised timeline for closing both current OB/OD ranges.
The joint letter from the GEPA and EPA provides a stepping stone for actionable and practical reform of the Andersen Air Force Base’s OB/OD practices, and protective measures could benefit the Guamanian environment and reduce harmful emissions of toxic contaminants on the island.
0 Comments