EPA Grills U.S. Army Over Handling of PCB-Contaminated Wastes

[ensho]

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jul2009/2009-07-27-092.asp


The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is demanding answers to dozens of long-standing questions about the handling of wastes contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls, PCBs, at U.S. Army ammunition production facilities nationwide.

Activities at 28 closing Army ammunition production facilities with a total of number of more than 16,000 buildings and structures could be affected.

In a July 7 letter to the Army, the EPA asks for a detailed response to questions about the status of demolition of buildings, management and storage of PCB wastes, research on destruction or removal of paint, and operation of decontamination ovens.

Army facilities that the EPA has identified as having PCB contamination include the Badger Army Ammunition Plant in Wisconsin, the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant in Kansas, Iowa Army Ammunition Plant, Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant in Nebraska, as well as the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant and the Ravenna Arsenal in Ohio.

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The EPA inquiry comes as good news to community activists who have been challenging the military's use of thermal treatment to decontaminate objects that contain PCBs, lead and other toxins.

"It took six years of dedicated work to get this issue to the forefront," said Laura Olah, executive director of the nonprofit group Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger.

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The decontamination oven, located on the west side of Badger Army Ammunition Plant near the Bluffview community, is an example of an uncontrolled and unpermitted source of toxic emissions caused by the thermal treatment of contaminated metal objects.
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I've been saying: bring home the Iraq troops; train them in the ways of HAZMAT and have them clean up military bases. the right way.