Text Fwd: Courts order disclosure of USFK base pollution assessment 법원, 주한 미군 기지 오염 평가 공개 명령

* Image source: same as the below link
'Members of the Korea Rural Community Corporation open the cap of observation well and remove oil in Seoul’s Yongsan District near Neoksapyeong Station, Mar. 23, 2009 (Photo by Shin So-young)'

Hankyoreh
Courts order disclosure of USFK base pollution assessment
:Upon USFK relocation, courts side with groups moving to transform USFK lands into new uses
By Noh Hyun-woong
Oct. 13, 2010

A series of court rulings have emerged stating that the Ministry of Environment must disclose findings of environmental impact assessments (EIA) on pollution at U.S. Forces in Korea (USFK) bases to the public. Analysts have predicted other similar disclosures in the days ahead as base transfers proceed with the relocation of USFK.

On Tuesday, the Fifth Administrative Division of Seoul Administrative Court, under Judge Lee Jin-man, announced that it had ruled in favor of the Busan Branch of the Korean Federation for Environmental Movement (KFEM) in its suit against the Ministry of Environment. The branch was requesting that the court overturn a decision not to disclose the results of an environmental pollution study conducted at Camp Hialeah, a USFK base in Busan.

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Text Fwd: [famoksaiyanfriends] Army Official: We Never Meant to Clean Up DU-Depleted Uranium

* Text sent from Martha Duenas on July 2, 2010

from DMZ Hawai'i blog:

Big Island Weekly News

Army official: We never meant to clean up DU

By Alan D. Mcnarie

Wednesday, June 30, 2010 11:08 AM HST

According to a high Army official, the Army never intended to remove depleted uranium ammunition remnants from Pohakuloa Training Area and Shofield Barracks, and it has no plans to do so for as long as the firing ranges at those facilities are still in use.

"The Army requested a license for possession, not decommissioning, of the legacy DU at the affected Army installations," wrote Deputy Assistant Secretary to the Army Addison D. "Tad" Davis IV to Congresswoman Mazie Hirono on May 26 of this year. Davis added, "Currently the Army has no plans for the removal of the legacy DU. The ranges containing DU are still in use, and most, if not all, of these ranges also contain unexploded ordnance, which is significantly more hazardous than any DU that might be present on these ranges. Should those ranges be scheduled for closure at some future date, the Army will address the DU present as part of the range closure...."

The "legacy DU" referred to in the letter is believed to be fragments of spotting rounds from cold-war-era Davy Crockett nuclear artillery. In 2008, the Army submitted an application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a permit to "possess" the DU; its original permit had expired in 1964. The NRC's ruling on that application is still pending, though the NRC has criticized the Army's plan to monitor the DU in the area as ineffective. (See "NRC to Army: DU Monitoring Plan Won't Work" in the archives at http://www.bigislandweekly.com.) A sub-agency called the Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs is entertaining a petition from Hawaiian activist Isaac Harp to discipline the army over the expired permit. Hirono had asked Davis what the army had done to address public concerns about "environmental, health and safety" hazards that the DU posed.

The Army has repeatedly contended that the DU does not present a significant hazard to the island's population. Davis's letter to Hirono continued to maintain the Army's position. He claimed that the soil concentration of DU at the Army ranges was estimated at 1-4 pCi/g (picocuries of DU per gram of soil), which averaged "much less than the NRC decommissioning levels of uranium in soil (14 pCi/g of Uranium 238, the major constituent of DU), and are not much above soil concentrations of naturally occurring uranium."

"The Army has collected numerous air and soil samples, none of which indicate that the DU at Hawaii's ranges has migrated off-range...," Davis contended.

Not so, says Dr. Lorrin Pang, a former Army doctor and frequent critic of the Army's handling of the DU issue.

"That's absolutely not true. Even their own tests at Waiki'i [on the Saddle Road near Pohakuloa] found it [DU] in dust at low levels. I think the correct scientific interpretation is, it was there," Pang told the Big Island Weekly.

Pang also challenged Davis's assertion that "Many independent scientific studies of depleted uranium in the environment show that DU presents no significant 'environmental, health and safety [hazard],' especially at the soil concentrations of the DU on Hawaii's ranges." Pang noted that the NRC itself had criticized the Army's monitoring protocols as inadequate; he maintained that the Army simply didn't know, yet, how much DU was located at Pohakuloa.

"You don't have a system in place to monitor and baseline, and then you're gonna tell me the risks?" he asked skeptically. "Tad Allen isn't a scientist. He's an MBA from Harvard. If he makes these statements, he'd better refer to scientists who will defend them...

First of all, if you say, we never intended to clean it up, how much is there? You don't even know."

The proper scientific approach, he maintained was, "First tell me, how much [DU] is there. Then you've got to tell, me, what is the risk? Then you've got to tell me the response: if you're going to clean it up or not."

And the army's own "friendly fire" studies on servicepeople exposed to DU were so badly flawed, he maintained, that the researchers hadn't even recorded tumors, so the health risks were also not known. Without knowing either the quantity of DU or the health risk, the proper course of action was impossible to determine.

He added that that appropriate course of action might turn out to be something other than cleaning up the DU.

"Maybe they don't have to clean it up," he said. "Maybe they just promise never to use it again. Maybe they keep the dust down."

Davis's letter also provoked a response from Cory Harden, who has been monitoring the DU controversy for the Sierra Club. Harden noted that when Davis wrote , "the Army has collected numerous soil and air samples, none of which indicate that the DU...has migrated off range," he didn't mention testimony by geologist and radiation expert Dr. Mike Reimer, who had reviewed the Army's proposed DU monitoring system and found that the holes in the filters on the Army's detection devices were "ten times too large."

She also questioned Davis' statement that the DU disposal problem would be addressed when the firing ranges were finally decommissioned. She noted that after the military took over Kaho'olawe for a bombing range, Pres. Dwight Eisenhower had promised to return the island in habitable condition - but when it was finally returned 50 years later, massive bombing had cracked the caprock, draining the island's freshwater supply, and most of the island's land still had not been entirely cleared of ordnance.

What the Army actually does with the DU, however, may depend not on what it intended or intends to do, but on what the NRC tells it to do. Few expect the NRC not to grant the Army a permit to possess the DU - after all, the stuff is already in the ground - but it may well impose conditions on the Army, including a more viable monitoring program and possibly a cleanup strategy.

[국문 번역] Text Fw: Overcoming American Military Base Pollution in Asia: Japan, Okinawa, Philippines 아시아 미군기지의 환경오염 실태: 일본, 오키나와, 필리핀

__________________________________________________________________________

* Text thankfully informed by Bruce Gagnon on April 11, 2010.
Gil Seo-Young thankfully forwarded the translated text on April 26, 2010.
2010년 4월 11일 브루스 개그논에 의해 감사히 자료 제공 받음.
번역된 텍스트는 길서영님에 의해 4월 26일 감사히 전송되었읍니다.

* Translator: Sim Ji-Yeon
번역자: 심지연
__________________________________________________________________________

Japan Focus 재팬 포커스

Overcoming American Military Base Pollution in Asia:
Japan, Okinawa, Philippines

아시아 미군기지의 환경오염 실태: 일본, 오키나와, 필리핀

Hayashi Kiminori, Oshima Ken’ichi and Yokemoto Masafumi
하야시 기미노리, 오시마 케니치 그리고 요케모토 마사푸미 씀

Translated by Christopher Nelson
크리스토퍼 넬슨에 의해 영문으로 번역됨

I Military Activity and Environmental Problems
I. 미군 활동과 환경문제

War is said to be the ultimate cause of environmental destruction. The absolute devastation of the environment in combat has been proven by examples such as World War II, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and the Iraq War. However, even in peacetime, military activity causes environmental destruction through the construction of facilities, everyday activities on base, and the preparation for war such as military training and maneuvers. Particularly in the case of the United States, the enormous military power that accounts for half of the world’s military expenditures, the destruction of the environment is appalling. For example, in Japan, the damage to nature that would accompany the construction of an alternative facility to Futenma Marine Corps Air Station in Okinawa will be accelerated and aircraft noise will damage the areas surrounding the bases. In the Korean community of Mehyang-ri, aerial bombing practice has caused severe environmental pollution. This essay will focus on the pollution of US bases in Asia in order to come to grips with the environmental problems caused by military activity. After investigating the pollution of US bases in Yokota (Japan), Okinawa and the Philippines, we will examine the principal conclusions that can be draw from those examples. Our purpose is to locate ways to resolve these military environmental problems.

전쟁은 환경파괴의 결정적 요인으로 일컬어진다. 전투 중에 발생하는 완전한 환경파괴는 제2차 세계대전, 베트남 전쟁, 걸프 전쟁, 이라크 전쟁 등에서 확인되어왔다. 하지만 평화시에도 군수시설, 기지에서의 매일의 활동 혹은 전시준비를 위한 군사 교육 및 작전 훈련을 통한 군사활동을 통해 환경 파괴는 발생한다. 특별히 미국의 경우, 전세계 국방비 지출의 반 이상을 차지하고 있는 만큼의 거대 군사력을 가진 미국의 환경 파괴는 무섭기까지 하다. 예를 들어 일본의 경우, 오키나와의 후텐니아(Futnenia) 해병대 항공기 이착륙장의 공사에 동반하는 자연손상을 가속화 시킬 것이며, 항공기 소음은 기지 주위에 큰 피해를 일으킬 것이다. 한국의 매향리에서는 전투기 폭격 연습으로 인해 심각한 환경오염이 발생하고 있다. 이 글은 아시아에 주둔하고 있는 미군기지의 환경오염에 초점을 맞추었으며 이는 군사 활동으로 인한 환경문제 실태 파악을 위함이다. 일본의 요코타, 오키나와 필리핀에서의 미군기지로 인한 환경오염에 대한 조사에 이어, 우리는 실례를 통해 얻을 수 있는 주요한 결론을 살펴볼 것이다. 우리의 목적은 이러한 군사 환경문제에 대한 해결방안 모색이다.

Why did we choose the problem of pollution associated with American bases in Asia? One reason is the particular importance to the US of Asian bases, especially those in Japan. In 2002, 44.3% of all American soldiers stationed overseas and 26.7% of US bases were concentrated in Asia. Since US bases in the Philippines were closed in 1992, most are now in Japan and Korea. The majority of US Marines stationed abroad are also located in Japan. What’s more, Japan provides 62% of the budget for basing American soldiers in Japan. In 2001, it was about 4.6 billion dollars. In addition to the so-called “Sympathy Budget” that Japan offers in order to support US bases, Japan provides additional funds such as indemnities for noise and various kinds of financial support for base activities. From the prospective of the American military, this has made it easy to pay for their overseas presence. Only in Japan (Yokota) has such an extensive complex of foreign military air force and navy bases, including port facilities for an aircraft carrier, been placed in such close proximity to the capital of an independent state. From a global perspective, this is an exceptional situation.

왜 우리는 아시아에 주둔하는 미군기지 오염에 초점을 맞추었는가?
첫번째 이유는 아시아주둔 미군기지, 특별히 일본에 있는 미군의 중대성에 있다. 2002년 미군의 약 44.3%가 해외에 주둔하며 26.7%가 아시아에 집중되어 있다. 1992년 필리핀에서의 미군기지 철수 이후부터 대부분의 미군기지는 일본과 한국에 있다. 대다수의 미군해군 역시 일본에 위치하고 있다. 일본은 일본에 주둔하는 미군기지에 대한 62%의 재정을 감당하고 있다. 2001년 그 액수는 약 미화 46억불에 다다랐다. 또한 “동정기금(Sympathy Budget)이라 불리는 재정을 미군기지에 지원하며, 소음공해 보상금과 같은 다양한 종류의 금전적 지원을 제공해 왔다. 이러한 일본의 지원은 미군 해외주둔의 비용 부담을 가볍게 해준다. 오직 일본(요코타)에서만 항만시설을 포함한 광범위한 외국 공군 및 해군 기지단지가 독립자치구의 수도와 근접하게 위치하고 있는데, 이는 세계적으로 봤을 때, 유례가 없는 경우이다.

* A US plane approaches Yokota * 요코타에 접근하는 미군 항공

A second reason is that, even among US overseas bases, Asian base pollution is unusually severe. In accordance with 1993 Bonn supplemental agreements, base pollution became the first military environmental problem to be attended to by the American military. However, as can be seen from the example of damage in the Philippines, while we have entered a new century, pollution has been left as it is without being adequately addressed. It is a matter of great urgency to decide how to rectify these conditions.

두번째 이유는 미국의 해외주둔 군사기지 중에서도 아시아 기지의 오염은 대개 심각하다.
1993년 본 추가 협정(Bonn supplemental agreements) 에 따르면 기지오염은 미군이 해결해야 할 첫번째 군사환경문제의 과제이었다. 하지만 필리핀에서의 피해를 목도하였음에도 불구하고, 오염에 대한 주제는 새로운 세기를 거치면서도 다뤄지지 않은 채 지나치게 되었다. 이러한 상황을 어떻게 바로잡을 것인가는 매우 시급히 다루어야 할 주제라 할 수 있다.

II The Problem of Pollution in US Bases in Asia

II. 아시아주둔 미군의 환경오염문제

The Philippines 필리핀

In the Philippines, there has been a long history of foreign military bases including Japanese military occupation during World War II. Apart from this period of Japanese occupation, the US military has used the Philippines as a military stronghold in Southeast Asia since the Spanish American War of 1898.

필리핀은 세계 2차 대전시기 일본의 점령을 포함한 외국군사기지의 긴 역사를 가지고 있다. 일본군의 점령시기를 제외하고 1898년 스페인-미국전쟁 이후 미군은 필리핀을 동남아시아의 전초기지로써 사용해왔다.

The main US bases located in the Philippines were Clark Air Force Base and Subic Naval Base. These bases were returned to the Philippines between 1991 and 1992. However, even before their return, it was recognized that these bases caused environmental pollution through such routine uses as oil spills, the dispersion of pesticide, and the disposal of wastes and ammunition. The US military failed to properly manage and dispose of toxic materials and did not remove this pollution when the bases were closed.

필리핀에 위치한 주요미군기지는 클라크 공군기지(Clark Air Force)와 수빅 해군기지(Subic Naval Base)이다. 이 기지들은 1991에서 1992년 사이에 필리핀에 반환되었다. 하지만 반환 전부터 기름유출, 제초제살포, 폐기물과 탄약 배출 등으로 인한 환경오염이 발견되어 왔다. 미군은 독성물질에 대한 적절한 관리 및 처리 등에 실패하였고, 군사기지 폐쇄 시에도 이러한 오염원을 제거하지 않았다.

The refugees who took shelter at Clark Air Force Base in order to escape the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991 suffered direct and serious consequences from base pollution. They were not notified that Clark Base was contaminated with toxic material and they used shallow wells in the base to get drinking water. This would later cause very serious health complications. At Subic Bay, it has been reported that there were quite substantial numbers of victims, mainly suffering from asbestosis, among former workers at ship repair facilities. According to “The People’s Taskforce for Base Cleanup,” a local environmental NGO, the total number of victims of pollution from both Clark Air Force Base and Subic Naval Base, as of the end of April 2004, is 2,460. Among those victims, 1060 have died; the health issues of surviving victims include leukemia, cancer, respiratory problems, and skin diseases.

1991년 피나투보산의 화산폭발을 피하기 위해 클라크 공군기지에 피신해 왔던 주민들은 기지 오염으로 인한 직접적인 피해를 입었다. 그들은 클라크 공군기지가 독성물질로 오염되어 있다는 사실을 통지 받지 못했고, 기지주위의 우물을 식수로 사용했다. 이는 이후 다양한 합병증 등 심각한 건강문제를 일으켰다. 수빅만에서는 상당한 수의 희생자가 보고 되었으며,이는 주로 선박 수리시설에 근무하는 노동자들에게 발생한 석면으로 인한 피해였다. 지역환경 NGO 단체인 “군사기지 정화 대책본부”(The People’s Taskforce for Base Cleanup) 에 의하면 클라크 공군기지와 수빅 해군기지에 의한 희생자는 2004년 4월 말기준, 2060명에 다다른다. 그 중 1060명 사망하였으며, 현재 생존한 희생자들은 백혈병, 암, 기관지성 문제, 피부병 등을 호소 하고 있다.

The US military has not done any pollution cleanup nor provided any compensation to these victims. A section of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) signed between the Philippines and the United States in 1947 that relieves US military from responsibility for restoring bases to their original condition has been cited as justification for the failure to take any action. Since so many have suffered from base pollution, it is critical to consider these incidents that took place in the Philippines.

이에 있어 미군은 어떠한 환경오염 정화나 희생자들에 대한 보상을 실시하지 않았다. 1947년 필리핀-미국 SOFA 조약은 미군이 사용기지를 원래의 상태로 복원시키는 것에 대한 책임을 면제해주었고, 이는 미군이 어떠한 조치를 취하지 않는 것에 대한 정당성을 부여 하였다. 많은 희생자가 기지 오염으로 인해 발생하였다는 것만으로도 필리핀에서 발생한 이 사건을 재고하는 것은 매우 중요하다.

Okinawa 오키나와

There have been reports of pollution in Okinawa caused by the US military since the beginning of the American Occupation. In 1947, base pollution in Iheya led to the death of eight people from arsenic poisoning. After the reversion of Okinawa to Japanese sovereignty in 1972, frequent oil spills continued to cause significant damage. In spite of such incidents, almost no countermeasures were taken to prevent base pollution. In part, this was due to the priorities of the times; however, it reflects the priority over all else that has always been accorded to the US military. Even now, the public only learns about base pollution when damage to the local community is caused by an incident that transcends the boundaries of the base. The jet fuel spill at Kadena Air Base that lasted for four days beginning on May 25, 2007 is but the most recent example of this.

미군에 의한 오키나와의 환경오염은 미군 점령 초기부터 보고되어 왔다. 1947년 이헤야(Iheya) 의 미군기지의 오염은 비소중독으로 인한 8명의 사망자를 낳았다. 1972년 오키나와가 일본 통치권으로 돌아간 이후부터, 잦은 기름유출은 상당한 피해를 입혀왔다. 이러한 사건들에도 불구하고, 미군은 기지 오염에 대한 어떠한 대항책을 마련하지 않았다. 일부는 그 당시의 당면한 과제의 우선 순위 탓으로 돌릴 수 있다. 하지만 이는 미군의 전반적 우선순위에 합치된 것이다. 지금까지도 기지 경계를 넘어 주변지역의 피해가 발생할 경우에만 기지오염에 대한 문제를 알게 될 뿐이다. 2007년 5월 25일부터 4일동안 발생한 카데나(Kadena) 공군기지 제트기 연료 유출이 가장 최근의 일례이다.

There are also serious problems with pollution in the former base areas that have been returned by the US military. The one-time US Communications Station at Onna Point demonstrates the severity of these ecological problems. In 1996, toxic materials such as cadmium, mercury, PCBs, lead, and arsenic were detected in the outflow area around Onna Point and in muddy soil inside a former water treatment tank at the base. After discussions between representatives from Okinawa Prefecture and the US military regarding toxic waste disposal, the American government refused to restore any polluted soil. Again, they claimed that the US-Japan SOFA absolved them from any responsibility to return sites to their original condition. To date, the Japanese Self Defense Force continues to store polluted soil temporarily on government land at their facility in Onna and the Government of Japan pays for this storage.

또한 반환된 미군기지 지역에 오염 역시 심각하다. 한때 미군 정보기지였던 온나 기지(Onna Point)는 생태문제의 심각성을 보여준다. 1996년 카듀뮴, PCB, 납, 비소등의 독성물질이 온나 기지주변과 기지의 식수 처리시설 내부의 진흙 토양에서 검출되었다. 독성물질처리에 대한 오키나와 지사와 미군의 협의 이후에도 미정부는 오염 토양에 대한 어떠한 복원도 거부했다. 그들은 다시 미국-일본 SOFA 규정을 들어 기지의 원래 상태로의 복원에 대한 책임을 회피했다. 최근까지 일본자위대가 온나 기지 주위지역 정부부지의 오염된 토양을 복원하고 있으며 일본정부가 그 비용을 감당하고 있다.

Since this case, there have been many similar incidents. On January 30, 2002, barrels containing tar-like material were discovered buried at a construction site in Mihama in the city of Chatan. The Government of Japan paid approximately 84 million yen for its disposal. Also in March 2003, soil in the northern area of former Camp Kuwae was found to be contaminated with lead at levels twenty times higher than environmentally acceptable as well as with arsenic, hexavalent chromium and PCBs. Because of this, plans to develop the returned site have been delayed.

위와 같은 경우를 비롯한 여러 비슷한 사건이 있다. 2002년 1월 30일 타르로 추정되는 물질 수 배럴이 차탄(Chatan)의 한 도시 미하마(Mihama)에 공사 현장에 매립된 채 발견되었다. 일본정부는 약 8400만 엔을 이 건에 투입하였다. 또한 2003년 3월에는 이전 쿠와에(Kuwae) 캠프 북쪽 지방에서 환경기준의 20배가 넘는 납이 검출 되었으며 비소, 크로뮤늄, PCB등 역시 검출되었다. 이로 인해 반환된 지역의 개발계획 또한 지연되고 있다.

Yokota 요코타

As in the cases of the Philippines and Okinawa, pollution inside US military bases was assessed for the first time when they were returned to local control. However, in those situations, it was difficult to grasp the events that led to the pollution. After pollution was discovered, the only way to take effective countermeasures was to provide medical treatment to victims based on their symptoms. It was difficult to detect the hazards and risks associated with pollution beforehand. Yokota Air Base was an exception in that requests made under the US Freedom of Information Act revealed pollution prior to the base’s return.

필리핀과 오키나와의 경우 미군기지내의 오염은 기지가 자국으로 반환되는 시점에서 평가 되었다. 하지만 이런 상황에서는 어떠한 사건이 어떠한 오염을 일으켰는지 파악하기 어렵다. 오염이 발견된 이후에서야 유일한 효과적 대응책으로 피해자들의 증상에 따라 의료적 조치를 제공할 뿐이었다. 오염에 따른 위험과 손해를 미리 감지해내는 것이 어려웠다. 요코타 공군기지는 미국 자유정보령( US Freedom of Information Act)에 의한 요구로써 기지가 반환되기 전 오염이 발표된 특별한 경우였다.

Based on the material made public, the following cases became known. First, ninety incidents of spilled contaminants in Yokota Base took place over a seven-year period from September 30, 1999 to May 10, 2006. Nine of these incidents were major leaks that had the potential to cause a serious impact on the local community. In case of Yokota, most of the polluted material that was spilled was petroleum related. Jet fuel accounted for 56% of the total, representing fifty of the ninety accidents. Yokota is an Air Force base: toxic materials such as jet fuel are used near the local residential area and the US military has been unable to completely prevent leaks.

대중지에 의해 다음과 같은 사실이 알려졌다. 첫번째, 1999년 9월 30일부터 2006년 5월 10일까지 약 7년의 기간 동안 90번의 오염물 유출이 발생했다. 이중 9번은 주변지역에 심각한 영향을 끼칠만한 유출이었다. 오염물 유출 전체 56%를 차지하는 제트연료는 90번 중의 50번의 사고로 이어졌다. 공군기지인 요쿄타는 제트연료와 같은 독성물질이 주위 거주지역에서 사용되었고, 미군은 이러한 유출을 완전히 막아내지 못한 것이다.

Second, Yokota is considered to have problems with pollution that include incidents not recognized by the US military. As in the returned bases in the Philippines, toxic materials accumulated during a time when their safe disposal was neglected can cause adverse affects on the local community and environment. It is also possible to prevent the returned site from being further utilized. Since, even with the release of information, it is difficult to comprehensively assess base pollution, the challenge of resolving these issues will continue to exist unless methods to actually investigate the environment inside bases are established.

두번째, 요쿄타에 미군에 의해 채 발견되지 못한 오염의 문제가 있다. 필리핀기지가 반환되었을 때와 같이, 독성물질 안전처리가 무시된 결과로 독성물질의 축적은 주변지역과 환경에 부정적 결과를 일으킬 수 있다. 반환되는 지역이 계속 사용되는 것 자체를 막을 여지도 있다. 왜냐하면 정보 공개에도 불구하고, 기지 오염을 면밀하게 파악하기가 쉽지 않고, 기지 안 환경을 조사하는 제도가 확립하기 전 상태에서의 오염문제 해결이 쉽지 않기 때문이다.

III Why does base pollution occur? An Institutional Analysis

III. 기지오염은 왜 발생하는가? 학회분석

Status of Forces Agreement with the US 미국과의 협약 내용

Rules and regulations governing the activity of US military at bases are provided in the SOFA. In Japan and South Korea, exclusive right to the use of bases by US military is provided under Article 3, Section 1 of the SOFA. The military is exempted from the environmental laws of both their host countries and the United States of America under this agreement. Given this exclusive right of base use it is difficult to perform walk-in investigations of bases for the purpose of environmental study. There is no section requiring the preservation of the environment in the SOFA and the US military continued to remain free from any rules and regulations until the time when regulations by US Department of Defense became meaningful in the 1990’s, as discussed in detail below.

기지에서의 미군 활동에 대한 규정과 법규는 SOFA에 기재되어 있다. 일본과 남한에서의 미군기지 사용에 대한 독점적 권리는 SOFA 3조 1항에서 연유한다. 이 협정에 의하면 미군은 주최국이나 미국의 환경법에서부터 면제된다. 이러한 기지사용에 대한 독점적 권리로 인해 환경감사목적을 위한 외부조사를 실시하기가 어려워 졌다. SOFA에는 환경보전에 대한 요구조항이 없고, 이는 1990년 미국 국방부 규제가 중요해진 시점까지 미군은 어떠한 규정과 법규로부터 자유로웠다.

It is also set forth in Article 4, Section 1 of the SOFA that the US military is exempted from responsibility to restore bases to their original condition. For US bases in Japan, the Japanese government pays any costs rather than requiring contributions by the US military. Therefore, the US military has no incentive to control pollution. Rather, the Japanese government relieves the US military of its financial burden.

SOFA는 4조1항에 의하여 미군은 기지를 원래 상태로 복원하는 책임을 면제받았다. 일본에 있는 기지를 위해 일본 정부는 미군이 요청하는 원조 대신 부대발생 비용을 지불했다. 따라서 미군은 오염을 규제하는 것에 있어 금전적 이득이 없는 것이고, 일본은 오히려 미국의 재정적 부담을 줄여준 셈이다.

Disposal of toxic materials and waste 독성물질과 폐기물 배출

Because of the disclosures of serious environmental destruction in the Philippines discussed earlier, and increasing awareness of environmental issues, the Department of Defense set forth regulations known as the “Department of Defense Policy for Establishing and Implementing Environmental Standards at Overseas Installations” on November 20, 1991. This directive officially outlines DoD policies for the disposal of toxic materials and wastes. It stipulated the creation of two documents: the “Overseas Environmental Baseline Guidance Document” and the “Environmental Governing Standard,” which originated in the former document. The Overseas Environmental Baseline Guidance Document stipulates the minimum standard for environmental protection in overseas bases. On the other hand, the Environmental Governing Standard sets official standards for each base, according to applicable environmental laws of the United States and of the host country as well as SOFAs and other international treaties. The Overseas Environmental Baseline Guidance Document provides a minimum standard; however, if a higher standard is set forth by host country, a comparable standard for environmental management will be established. In Japan, the Environmental Governing Standard was created on May 1, 1995 and has been revised six times to September 2006.

앞에서 언급된 필리핀에서의 심각한 환경 파괴에 대한 보고와 환경문제 자체에 대한 인식이 고양됨에 따라 미국 국방부는 1991년 11월 20일 “해외군사시설의 환경기준 재정 및 실행 에 대한 국방부 방침”(Department of Defense Policy for Establishing and Implementing Environmental Standards at Overseas Installations) 이라고 알려진 법규를 재정했다. 이 법규는 독성물질 및 폐기물 처리에 대한 DoD 제도의 공식적 골자를 마련했다. 이것은 두 가지 문건: “해외시설 환경 기초 지침 문건”(Overseas Environmental Baseline Guidance Document”와 “환경 관리 기준”( Environmental Governing Standard)을 법제화 했다. 해외시설 환경 기초 지침 문건은 해외기지의 환경보전을 위한 최소한의 방침을 마련했다. 환경 관리 기준은 SOFA 및 국제 협약뿐 아니라 주최국과 미국 환경법에 따른 각 기지의 공식 기준을 정립하였다. 해외시설 환경 기초 지침 문건은 최소한의 방침을 제공한다. 하지만 주최국에서 더 높은 기준을 제시할 경우, 적절한 선에서 양립할 수 있는 환경 관리 기준을 정립한다. 일본에서는 환경관리 기준이 1995년 5월 1일 재정시부터 2006년 9월 까지 여섯 차례나 개정되었다.

However, these documents still present problems. First of all, the Environmental Governing Standard is merely a guideline. It imposes no obligation on the US military. Military policy regarding the observance of environmental regulations is always an internal directive and never imposes any responsibility toward the host country, even in the case of violation of this policy.

그러나 이러한 문건은 여전히 여러 문제를 가지고 있다. 무엇보다도 환경 관리 기준은 말 그대로 지침일 뿐이다. 이는 미군에게 어떠한 의무 강제성을 부과하지 않는다. 환경제도에 대한 군사방침은 항상 내부적 지시이며 주최국을 향해 어떠한 의무를 지우지 않는다. 설령 규제위반 상황인 경우에도 상황은 별반 다르지 않다.

Secondly, according to the Japan-US SOFA, the US military is not required to obtain permission from the Government of Japan to perform its activities. The host country is also precluded from taking any initiative to conduct walk-in investigations, which prevents the host country from any direct research into environmental conditions inside the bases. Therefore, it is necessary to revise the SOFA so that the host country will be able to understand and regulate activities conducted by US military.

두번째로 미국-일본 SOFA에 의하면 미군의 군사활동 실행에 있어 미군은 일본정부의 어떠한 허가를 필요로 하지 않는다. 또한 주최국이 외부 조사활동을 주도하는 것이 불가능하며 이는 기지내의 환경상태에 대한 직접적 조사를 막는다. 따라서 주최국이 미군의 활동을 파악하고 규제하기 위한 SOFA 개정의 필요가 시급히 요구되는 바이다.

Removal of Pollution 오염제거

The Environmental Governing Standard mentioned above does not require the removal of pollution. Any removal is considered “to be determined according to applicable international treaties, Status of Forces Agreement and policies of US government”. This is why it is critical to consider the US military’s exemption from any responsibility to restore bases to their original condition in the SOFA.

위에 언급한 환경 관리 기준은 오염제거에 대한 요구를 하지 않는다. 어떠한 오염제거도 적절한 국제협약, 협약 사정 및 미국정부 방침에 따라 결정될 수 있을 뿐이다. 이것이 SOFA에 의한 원래 상태로의 복원에 대한 책임으로부터 미군이 면제되어 있는 바를 생각하는 것에 있어 중요한 점이다.

On February 2, 1998, the Environmental Remediation for DoD Activities Overseas was issued. It stipulates measures for the comprehensive removal of pollution on both bases that are currently in use or have been closed. It broadly outlines expedited environmental governing standards that the American military is to follow when dealing with “known immanent and substantial endangerment to human health and safety.”

1998년 2월 2일 해외 DoD 활동에 대한 환경 개선이 발표되었다. 이는 현재 사용 혹은 폐쇄한 기지에서의 철저한 오염제거에 대한 조치를 명시하였다. “인간건강과 안전에 있어 시급하고 심각하다고 알려진 위험”(“Known immanent and substantial endangerment to human health and safety”)을 다루는 데 있어 미군이 따라야 할 환경 관리 기준의 큰 틀을 제공하였다.

There are two important points in these regulations. The first is that the American military is probably authorized to hide the presence of pollution in overseas military bases by not declaring its presence. It seems likely that, if pollution was made generally known, the American military would have to implement the Environmental Governing Standard at vast expense.

이러한 제도에 있어 중요하게 지적해야 할 두 가지 지점이 있다. 첫째는 미국은 해외기지에서의 오염 실태에 대해 부정함으로써 해외주둔기지에서의 오염 실태를 숨기는 권한을 부여 받을 가능성이 있다. 만약 오염이 일반적으로 알려져 있는 상황이라면 미국은 환경 관리 기준을 실행하는 데 있어 거대한 비용을 치러야 할 것이다.

The second is this: if the presence of pollution is clearly declared, the possibility exists that it would not actually be removed. That is, if it is determined that there is a “known immanent and substantial endangerment to human health and safety” of those outside the base, the pollution will be removed; otherwise, it might not be. The problem is that the specific content of these standards is not defined in the regulations.

두번째는 오염실태가 확실히 파악되었어도 그 오염물이 제거되지 않을 확률이 있다. 기지 밖에서 “인간건강과 안전에 있어 시급하고 심각하다고 알려진 위험”으로 결정되어 있을 경우에만 오염은 제거될 것이고, 그렇지 않으면 제거는 아마도 이루어지지 않을 것이다. 문제는 위 제도에 있어 언급된 기준에 대한 자세한 내용이 정의조차 내려져 있지 않다는 것이다.

In American law, a single standard exists for regulating the removal of pollution in domestic US bases. On the other hand, no laws exist for regulating the removal of pollution overseas. The relations of power between the United States and the host nation come into play. Concerning American overseas bases, beyond Presidential orders, Congressional laws, the internal directives of the Department of Defense, and international agreements like the SOFA, relations of power between the United States and the host nation are mobilized over the issue of pollution. The removal of pollution from overseas bases is not an obligation built on regulations; rather, it takes on the character of a voluntary goal that the American military imposes on itself. When the American military agrees to meet the demands of the host nation to remove pollution, any negligence in removal could damage relations with the host nation and create problems for the smooth use of US bases. That is, pollution is removed in order to avoid damaging the mutual security policies that depend on the effective operation of the bases.

미국법에 따르면 자국 내 기지에 있어 오염제거를 규제하는 단지 하나의 기준이 있고 그나마도, 해외 주둔 기지에 있어 오염제거에 대한 법은 아예 존재하지도 않는다. 다만 미국과 주최국의 힘겨루기가 이를 대체할 뿐이다. 미군 해외기지에 있어 대통령 명령, 국회법, 국방부의 내부 지시, SOFA 와 같은 국제 협약을 넘어 미국과 주최국 간의 힘겨루기로 오염문제를 해결하는 기준이 만들어 지는 것이다. 해외 기지에서의 오염제거는 법적 의무 사항이 아니다. 다만 자발적 성격으로써 미군 스스로가 규정지을 뿐이다. 미군이 주최국의 요구대로 오염을 제거한다고 동의 했을 때, 오염제거 시 미군의 태만이 이는 주최국과의 관계의 손상을 줄 수 있고, 미군기지의 유연적 사용에 있어 문제를 일으킬 수 있다. 따라서 양측 상호 보안 정책에 손해를 입히는 것을 피하고자 오염은 제거 되고, 이것이 기지의 효과적인 사용여부가능성에 영향을 준다.

IV Towards the resolution of problems of environmental pollution associated with overseas American bases

IV. 해외 주둔 미군기지와 관련된 환경오염에 대한 해결 방안

In light of the previous discussion, we can, at minimum, propose the following three points to advance the resolution of environmental pollution associated with American military bases.

앞선 논의에 거쳐 우리는 적어도 미군기지의 환경문제해결에 대한 3가지 방안을 다음과 같이 제시할 수 있다.

The first is that it is necessary to establish the exact nature of this pollution. Concerning pollution within the bases, at present, the host country can only request that information from the US military. Unless the US military makes it public, as in the case of Yokota, information about pollution can only be obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. Within the bases, according to the SOFA, one cannot freely carry out studies that require entering the bases. Considered from the perspective of the safety of the citizens of that area, this is a tremendous problem. It is necessary to revise the SOFA to ensure that the host nation has the right to enter bases in order to carry out this research.

첫번째는 오염에 대한 정확한 정의를 정립하는 것이 필요하다. 현재 주최국은 기지 내에서의 오염실태에 관한 정보를 미군에게만 요청 할 수 있다. 요코타의 예외적인 경우처럼 미군이 오염문제를 공식화하지 않는 이상 오염에 대한 정보는 미국 정보 자유령에 의거해서만 얻을 수 있다. SOFA 에 의하면 기지내로 들어가 실행하는 자유로운 어떠한 조사도 할 수 없다. 그 지역 주민 안전의 측면에서 본다면 이것은 엄청난 문제인 것이다. 주최국이 기지 내에서의 연구를 실행할 수 있는 권리를 보장받을 수 있도록 SOFA를 반드시 개정해야만 한다.

The second is that the American military should be obligated to observe the environmental laws of host countries. In recent years, we have seen that the US military has adopted standards for environmental management and incorporated them in everyday military practices. While it might appear that these standards have become stricter, no powers of enforcement are stipulated. What’s more, military standards of evaluation are unclear as to whether they are required to remove existing pollution or not. It will probably be necessary to enact reforms that include revisions of regional accords in order to address these problems.

두번째는 미군이 주최국의 환경법을 준수하는 것이 의무화 되어야 한다. 최근 몇 년동안 미군은 환경 관리 기준을 적용시키고 매일의 군사훈련에 포함시켜왔다. 그러나 이러한 기준이 더 엄격하게 되었음에도 불구하고, 시행시킬 힘의 발판을 마련하지 못했다. 게다가 평가기준은 매우 불분명하여 현재 존재하는 오염을 제거하라는 요구 여부 내용은 역시 모호하다. 이러한 문제를 공론화 시키기 위해, 지역적 협약을 개정을 포함한 법률 개혁 단행이 필요하다.

The third is that it is necessary to problematize the relationship of American military affairs to the public sphere. As any number of base pollution incidents has clearly demonstrated, even in peacetime, military activity creates severe environmental problems, jeopardizing the safety of those living near the bases. In the name of “National Peace and Security,” vast amounts of money such as the “Sympathy Budget” and various supplementary expenses have been paid to the American military. However, when considered from the perspective of environmental preservation, the activities of the American military have not respected the public sphere.

세번째는 미군활동과 환경문제의 관련성을 대중 차원으로 문제화 시킬 필요성이 있다. 여러기지 오염 사고 건이 밝혀짐에 따라 평화시에도 미군 활동은 심각한 환경 문제를 일으키고 기지 주변지역의 안전을 위협하는 것이 드러났다. “국가 평화 와 안전”(National Peace and Security”) 란 이름 아래 “동정기금” 등과 같은 수많은 재정과 다양한 추가 비용이 미군에게 지급되었다. 문제는 환경보전차원을 고려했을 때, 미군의 활동은 대중과의 소통을 유념해 두지 않았다는 것이다.

Drawing on the resolution of those who live in the areas where military bases are located and, more broadly, on that of citizens nationwide, it is necessary to develop a movement that demands environmental safety. While recognizing the priority that the American military places on the smooth operation of its oversea bases, it is critical that we press forward with demands for the disposal of hazardous materials and the removal of pollution. Fundamentally, environmental safety and military affairs are incompatible. So, from the perspective of environmental safety, we must radically reduce military activity. That is to say, unless we commit ourselves to a movement with citizens as its driving force, striving for environmental disarmament, there will be no resolution to the environmental problems created by the military.

군사기지 주변지역 주민들, 더 나아가 해당 국가의 시민으로부터 해결책을 끌어내어 환경안전운동을 개진시키기 위해 대중과의 소통은 반드시 필요하다. 미군이 해외 기지의 유연한 사용에 우선 순위를 두고 있다는 것을 알고 있더라도 위험물 처리 및 오염제거에 대한 지속적 요구가 결정적으로 중요하다. 근본적으로 환경안전과 군사활동은 양립자체가 불가능 하다. 따라서 환경 안전 차원에서 군사활동은 과감하게 줄여야 한다. 시민과 함께하는 운동으로써 군비축소에 대한 노력에 전념하지 않는다면 군사사설 환경문제에 대한 해결책은 없을 것이다.

Hayashi Kiminori: Adjunct Professor, Department of Political Science, Otsuma Women’s University; Ōshima Ken’ichi: Professor, Department of International Economics, Ritsumeikan University; Yokemoto Masafumi, Professor, Department of Economics, Tokyo Keizai University.
This article was published in Gunshuku Mondai Shiryo (Problems of Disarmament), October 2008, pp. 2-10. Notes in the original are not translated here.
Christopher Nelson is associate professor and director of graduate studies in Anthropology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and an Asia-Pacific Journal associate. . He is the author of Dancing with the Dead: Memory, Performance, and Everyday Life in Postwar Okinawa.

Recommended citation: Hayashi Kiminori, Ōshima Ken’ichi and Yokemoto Masafum, "Overcoming American Military Base Pollution in Asia," The Asia-Pacific Journal, Vol. 28-2-09, July 13, 2009.

See the following articles on related subjects:
Miyume Tanji, Community, Resistance and Sustainability in an Okinawan Village: Yomitan (link)
Hideki Yoshikawa, Dugong Swimming in Uncharted Waters: US Judicial Intervention to Protect Okinawa's "Natural Monument” and Halt Base Construction (link)
Urashima Etsuko, Opting for the "Irrational": Tokyo Brushes Aside Okinawan Court Order to End Awase Wetlands Reclamation Project (link)
Sakurai Kunitoshi, Okinawan Bases, the United States and Environmental Destruction (link)
C. Douglas Lummis, The US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement and Okinawan Anger (link)
Koji Taira, Okinawan Environmentalists Put Robert Gates and DOD on Trial. The Dugong and the Fate of the Henoko Air Station (link)
Miyagi Yasuhiro, Okinawa and the Paradox of Public Opinion: Base Politics and Protest in Nago City, 1997-2007 (link)

Text Fwd: How the Military Bases will bring the environmental damage and Economic Decrement: Overseas Proofs

How the Military Bases will bring the environmental damage
and Economic Decrement: Overseas Proofs
군사 기지들은 어떻게 환경 피해와 경제적 감퇴를 가져올 것인가? " 해외 증거들

Upon the blundering remarks of the Minister of the National Defense, Kim Tae-Young during the talks with the Gangjeong villagers on March 20, that the military bases in Hawaii contributed to the development of Hawaii, No Base Stories of Korea asked the activists in many countries, to provide the facts and proofs that the military bases (mostly U. S. bases) in their countries including Okinawa, Hawaii, Guam, Japan, and United States etc. have actually brought up the economic decrement and environmental damage. Many activists thankfully responded with much information. This site is the collection of the their information provided. Hope many people share the information here for the no bases movement in the world.
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Bruce K. Gagnon on the rocket fuel’s damage on the farming land, in the US bases in the United States (March 24, 2010)
브루스 개그논으로부터, 로켓 연료가 농토에 주는 피해에 대해 (2010 년 3월 24일)

[O]ne key pollution problem at the proposed Navy base on Jeju will be the fuel they put inside of the "missile defense" rockets on board the Aegis ships. All over America this rocket fuel has gotten into the ground water and contaminated it and now the fuel is showing up in milk and lettuce...it is likely that the ground water on Gangjeong would become contaminated and then the tangerines would also become contaminated as a result. The fuel is called perchlorate and we have many articles on the GN web site about it....... http://www.space4peace.org/pollution.htm

Bruce

* http://www.wisn.com/health/19040768/detail.html

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Kyle Kajihirom, Hawai'i, Letter to Koreans (March 24, 2010)
하와이의 카일 카지히로가 한국인들에게 보내는 편지 (2010 년 3월 24일)

The Korean government's argument that militarization has been good for Hawai'i and would be good for Jeju is dead wrong. Militarization led to the loss of Hawai'i's independence as a country; it led to the destruction of the environment and disintegration of Hawaiian culture; it made Hawai'i a target during WWII and the Cold War; it brought the most virulent forms of racism and martial law to the islands; it provided America the platform from which to expand its empire; it continues to distort our development in ways that serve the interests of Empire and not the security of Hawai'i or the region.

In Hawai'i, Ke Awalau o Pu'uloa (Pearl Harbor) was once one of the most productive fisheries for Native Hawaiian people. There was an extensive agriculture-aquaculture complex that fed many thousands on O'ahu island. Ke Awalau o Pu'uloa was the reason America invaded and occupied the Kingdom of Hawai'i, but for its strategic location, not the abundance of its resources. The Navy took this resource and turned the area into a toxic superfund site. There are approximately 749 contaminated sites that the Navy has identified within the Pearl Harbor Naval Complex. There are now signs warning not to eat fish, crabs or shellfish from the waters at Ke Awalau o Pu'uloa. The waters are all off-limits to the public because of military security measures.

There are hundreds of other military contaminated sites. Contamination includes PCB, perchloroethylene, jet fuel and diesel, mercury, lead, radioactive Cobalt 60, unexploded ordance, perchlorate, depleted uranium...

It is partially true that the military has become a major source of revenue in Hawai'i, but at a very high price. The military economy is artificial. It is largely a result of the corrupt processes of the military-industrial-political complex and the game of earmarking defense appropriations for projects in the islands. This is the source of Senator Daniel Inouye's power, his ability to direct federal monies to Hawai'i, even at the expense of the environment, Hawaiian rights and sovereignty and peace in the Asia-Pacific region.

Also, Pearl Harbor has become a major tourist attraction because of its mythical significance in the American psyche.

The questions that we must always ask about the alleged economic benefits of the military in Hawai'i are: "Who gets paid? Who pays the price? What are the real social, cultural and environmental costs of such a dependent economy?" The native people of the land are the ones whose lands are always stolen and destroyed by the military. They live in the toxic shadow of the bases. Other productive capacities wither away as Hawai'i has grown completely dependent on imports (90% of food is imported) and federal spending. Meanwhile those who benefit most from the military economy are the contractors (many who flock to Hawai'i when new appropriations flow in) who feed on the destruction wrought by all this so-called 'prosperity'. Many of these same contractors are lining up to feed on the destruction of Guahan.

Sorry for this rather rambling email.

I hope there's something in Hawai'i's experience that can help to counter the pro-base arguments regarding Jeju.

In Solidarity

Kyle

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Jean Downy, United States, on the various problems of the multiples US bases in the world (March 23, 2010)
미국 진 다우니로부터, 세계의 미국 군사 기지 문제점 (2010년 3월 23일)

* Jean, with many thankful comments, even though I omitted here.


http://www.dmzhawaii.org/?p=5756
Philippines: U.S. military pollution linked to deaths

http://www.japanfocus.org/-Hayashi-Kiminori/3185
Overcoming American Military Base Pollution in Asia: Japan, Okinawa, Philippine

http://www.protecthawaii.ws/
Catherine Lutz: US Bases and Empire – looking at the Asia-Pacific

http://www.dmzhawaii.org/?p=4272
A lie: Local Economy Dependent on US Bases in the below URL

http://www.anatakara.com/petition/peace-to-okinawa-peace-to-guam.html
Peace to Okinawa Peace to Guam

http://japanfocus.org/-Miyume-TANJI/3062
Community, Resistance and Sustainability in an Okinawan Village: Yomitan
Miyume TANJI

The author is a famous Okinawa-born scholor who is now in the US or somewhere.

In the Philippines, for example, only after the US military evacuated the Subic Naval Station and Clark Air Base in 1992 did local communities discover that tons of toxic chemicals had been dumped on the ground and into the water, or buried in uncontrolled landfills, according to the Philippines-based People's Task Force for Base Clean-up in the Philippines, an advocacy organization.

http://www.albionmonitor.com/9809b/copyright/basecleanup.html
US Not Cleaning Up Ex-Military Base Pollution

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The U.S. Navy is the largest polluter in the San Diego, California area, having created 100 toxic sites during the last 80 years. Environmental damage caused by the Navy includes spilling over 11,000 gallons of oil into the San Diego Bay in 1988. Fish in the Bay contain high levels of mercury and radioactive compounds that are attributable to Navy pollution of the Bay. (4)

Near the Naval Air Station in Fallon, NV high rates of cancer and rare diseases have probably been linked to the dumping of jet fuel, radio and electronic emissions and the contamination of groundwater with radioactive materials. Fallon has the highest per capita rate of childhood leukemia in the nation. (5)

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0327-21.htm
Military Pollution: The Quintessential Universal Soldier

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Makiko Sato, Japan, on the issues of Okinawa (March 23, 2010)
일본 마끼꼬 사또로부터, 오키나와 관련(2010년 3월 23일)

As for negative effects of a military base:
this is official statistics in Okinawa on military-related incidents and accidents.
http://www3.pref.okinawa.jp/site/view/contview.jsp?cateid=14&id=661&page=1

Furthermore, below info needs much attention especially from women.
http://www.genuinesecurity.org/actions/obamatoguam.html
Letter to Obama Regarding Guam(Feb. 14, 2010)

―' Local women live in fear because of the harassment, crime and violence committed by U.S. military personnel. For example, U.S. troops commit 95% of abductions and rape cases in Okinawa. In February 2008, a U.S. Marine sexually assaulted a 14-year-old Okinawan girl. A week later, a 22-year-old Filipina woman in Okinawa was raped by a U.S. soldier. And these are not isolated cases. '

―'Beyond this issue, a rise in prostitution and trafficking goes hand in hand with U.S. military bases and R&R sites, especially in the Asia Pacific region. Increasingly, poor women are being trafficked into the sex industry, and those working in this industry typically experience life-long trauma. '

1. When Okinawa was returned to Japan after the long occupation, the US had secretly demanded Japan's paying a big sum of money for cleaning up some US bases polluted with its ammunition.

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Still now, in some US bases in Okinawa, soil contamination is feared from depleted uranium bombs and so on, but we don't know how bad it is, as nobody is allowed to enter.
So maybe the US will demand again money for returning their old bases.

In Korea, this kind of thing will surely happen. The US will never return land to Korea for free. They will make Koreans pay for the cleaning up which they are supposed to do. If Korean government cannot afford to pay, then contaminated soil will never be cleaned up, the situation written here again in this URL.

http://www.genuinesecurity.org/actions/obamatoguam.html

―‘Bases that have been closed such as in the Philippines (1992) and the bombing ranges in Vieques (2003) have still not been decontaminated and devolved for use by local communities. Environmental contamination has been linked to high rates of cancer in communities alongside military fence lines.
Guahan and Vieques have no cancer treatment facilities, so people must spend their limited resources to travel elsewhere to receive the costly medical care they need.‘ ―

2. As I wrote in my message to Jeju about the number of port-calls made last year by US nuclear-powered carriers or submarines to Yokosuka, Okinawa, and so on, such port calls are problematic, but recently it is so from the perspective of a newly emerging health issue of minor radioactivity release.

Such US ships or submarines may call at Jeju repeatedly if the planned Navy base is construced there. Local people in places with such ports in Japan are afraid of minor release of radioactivity into the sea from US submarines or other ships, not to mention a possible nuclear disaster. Minor release of radioactivity is now becoming a serious issue among citizens here who are against nuclear power plants.

Fish is strangely abundant at the emission pipe of a nuclear power plant, where cooled water containing minor radioactivity flows out into the ocean. And in the nearby sea, surprisingly big fish, big sea urchins ect. are found. They must be affected by minor radioactivity, which ends up in the bodies of human beings including children.

So from the same reason, port calls by US nuclear-powered submarines or aircraft carries must be dangerous, as they release water contaminated with radioactivity.

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Last Sunday I went for a talk by a long-time famous activist-singer from Okinawa.
(In '70s, he burned our nationa flag out of furor toward our mainland government and got arrested. )
He gave us a good recent story in Okinawa, though his data is somewhat old.
But the situation is further better than in his story, according to an internet news article.

(・The official website of the Prefecture of Okinawa
　　http://www.pref.okinawa.jp/english/index.html

・Military Base Affairs Division
http://www3.pref.okinawa.jp/site/view/contview.jsp?cateid=14&id=662&page=1 )

★=Peace has brought in tourists and permanent new residents, increased revenues, tax revenues, and employment =★ (the title I've cooked up)

＊economic boom after returning of Okinawa US base-related areas in Chatan, Maki, Tengan, Naha
(* data from the handout delivered at his talk meeting
＊This is the date of 2006 alone and some data items are missing
* Specific names related to the US forces are just by my translation)

In 1981 there were returns of some plots of the land occupied by the US bases
　(before → (after)
ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー
●Hambee (or Hamby) Airfield in Chatan-town, Okinawa(http://www.chatan.jp/), returned in 1981
→　has revived as a tourism spot called 'American Village.'
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%8C%97%E8%B0%B7%E7%94%BA
http://gpzagogo.s8.xrea.com/hambyaf.html
http://www.owjc.ac.jp/~s206018/index.html
・population: 16,000 →26,800
・the number of employee: 100→2,259
・tax revenue of the town:　￥3.5million　 →￥108.5 million

＊total investment money in businesses of the economic ripple effects (from the return of the base)~＝￥172,671,000,000 ( about ￥173 billion）

● Residential area at Port Maki → has been changed into'Naha new metropolis
'　・employees : 196 　→7,168
　 ・tax revenue:（no data）→ ￥1,048,000,000（ about￥1.o4 billion for FY'06）
● Tengan communication post
・employees : 4 → 2,431
● supportive facility of the US Air Force and the US navy in Naha
・employees 470 →6,769
。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。

■ average number of annual tourists to Okinawa in total
440,000/year →6.04 million/year　

■ average annual revenue from tourism in Okinawa in total　　　
￥32.4 billion →￥410.4 billion

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Of course it took time. And this dramatic change may have much to do with 9/11, as Japanese tourists, who had once tended to go abroad, stopped doing that, and then began to flock to nearby tourism spots like Okinawa, South Korea, and so on.

Which has brought down the air fare, which in turn has brought more tourists and businesses in a good spiral. The activist-singer said the cheaper air fare has been the biggest contributing factor, and that Okinawa can be financially independent if all the US bases are out. (It may be such a nice place to live in for retirees.)

Even if you have military bases, employments there are only temporary, and local economy is suffocated, not expands,with less tourists, he said.

But still in Okinawa, the unemployment rate is the highest in Japan, because of the big bases and base-related facilities which occupy huge territories there.

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Vanessa Warheit on Guam (March 24, 2010)
바넷사 와히트로부터 구암관련(2010년 3월 24일)

I think the best reference I can think of - wrt the proposed Guam buildup, anyway - is the (highly critical) US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) report that just came out. We Are Guahan has a succinct 10-point summary of the EPA's findings here:
http://weareguahan.com/2010/03/03/10-things-you-should-know-about-us-epas-comment/

Vanessa Warheit
Producer/Director
The Insular Empire: America in the Mariana Islands
http://theinsularempire.blogspot.com
www.theinsularempire.com
visit us on Facebook!

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Martin Frid, Japan, on Okinawa (March 25, 2010)
일본의 마틴 프리드로부터 , 오키나와 관련 (2010 년 3월 25일)

________ Martin Frid’s first email (March 25, 2010)
________ 마틴 프리드의 첫번째 이 메일 (2010년 3월 25일)

There were several Environmental Assesements (EA) for the Henoko base in Okinawa, Japan, but there is little on the Internet. In a rush, I can only find this:

Henoko Ordnance Ammunition Depot: Okinawa, Japan
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/henoko.htm

Call for Action against Henoko Military Base Construction
http://okinawaforum.org/disagreeblog/2007/12/_call_for_action_against_henok.html

Covering Okinawa in Eng., cont
http://okinawaforum.org/disagreeblog/english/

Martin J Frid
Kurashi News from Japan
http://www.martinjapan.blogspot.com

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Some examples of complaints as part of the EA:
- The document on procedures for conducting an environmental impact assessment of the new U.S. Marine Corps Air Station constructed by the Japanese government at coastal Henoko did not go through a proper public hearing process as required by Japanese environmental laws. I would like to request you to call for a public re-examination of the Henoko document.

- The Okinawa Prefecture Environmental Impact Assessment Committee claimed the national government responded vaguely to its 76 questions regarding the document on procedures for conducting an environmental impact assessment of the new U.S. Marine Corps Air Station constructed by the Japanese government at coastal Henoko. I urge that the national government's response to the committee's 76 questions be made public.

- Accepting the flawed document on procedures for conducting an environmental impact assessment of the new U.S. Marine Corps Air Station constructed by the Japanese government at coastal Henoko will subvert the environmental assessment system, and will threaten Okinawa's environment for years. I would like to request you to urge the Japanese government to revise the Henoko document.

Also, Greenpeace Japan (office in Tokyo) has some information in English about the Japanese government's Environmental Assessment in 2007.

http://www.greenpeace.or.jp/campaign/oceans/dugong/en/
http://www.greenpeace.or.jp/press/releases_en/pr20070927_html

Naha, Okinawa, September 27, 2007 --Greenpeace will deliver 30,313 messages from people all over the world saying "Stop the Impact Assessment and save the dugongs" to the Bureau of Defence Policy in Naha at 11:30am and to the Ministry of Environment in Tokyo at 1:45pm today.

Today is the last day the Defence Ministry will accept comments from the public regarding their proposal on how an Environmental Impact Assessment is executed in the two bays at Henoko and Oura, where the two runways are to be built for the U.S. Marine Corps. The 30,313 messages were sent from 155 countries, including more than 5,450 from the United States, in an online-action, which only began on 3 September.

"The construction of the air base will put in danger of extinction the last of the Japanese dugongs. There are some issues that should be put in first place by importance and I think this is one of them. Extinction is forever! Please reconsider the wish of thousands of people around the world, as well as the community of Okinawa, but most of all the wish of these wonderful creatures, the Dugongs." - September 18, from Japan.

"Please think again what is most needed to protect environment. Many people in the world are very conscious about what is important for our children, human-beings, animals and environment in future, in stead of immediate survival of just our generation. Please listen to those views and opinions and do please reconsider the plan to construct air-base over the sea at the expense of precious creatures like dugongs." - September 18, from Japan.

"The worldwide view of Japan's conservation efforts is, rightly or wrongly, a poor one because of your inexcusable stance on whaling. Here is an opportunity to partly rectify this by saving this population of Dugongs. The honour of your country is reflected in its actions. Please do the right thing".


________ Martin Frid’s second email (March 25, 2010)
________ 마틴 프리드의 두번째 이 메일 (2010년 3월 25일)

I also recommend this:
Impact on Okinawan Citizens ( May 24, 2009)
http://usmilitaryinokinawa.blogspot.com/2009/05/impact-on-okinawan-citizens.html


Violent Crimes

Accidents and Noise

Environmental Concerns

Sources: Environmental Assessment Watch Group for the Dugons in Okinawa (Japanese)
http://jaga.way-nifty.com/dugong/

http://jaga.way-nifty.com/dugong/

Makishi, Y
http://www.ryukyu.ne.jp/%7Emaxi (2001).
Okinawaha Moudamasarenai. Tokyo: Koubunken. (His website is in Japanese)
Karan, P, P., (2005). Japan in The 21st Century: Environment, Economy, and Society: Lexington, KY: The University Press of Kentucky.

Okinawa Prefecture Government of Military Base Affairs Division http://www3.pref.okinawa.jp/site/view/contview.jsp?cateid=14&id=592&page=1

Aerial Photographs of U.S. Facilities <38>
http://www3.pref.okinawa.jp/site/view/contview.jsp?cateid=14&id=593&page=1

Sunagawa, K. (2004). Environmental Problems Caused by U.S. Military Bases. U.S. military Bases in Japan,
http://www.jca.apc.org/wsf_support/2004doc/WSFJapUSBaseRepoFinalAll.html
14-15. Retrieved April 7, 2009.

Takazato, S. (2004). Violence Against Women Under Long-Term U.S. Military Station in Okinawa. U.S. Military Bases in Japan
http://www.jca.apc.org/wsf_support/2004doc/WSFJapUSBaseRepoFinalAll.html
11-13. Retrieved April 7, 2009.


________ Martin Frid’s third email (March 25, 2010)
________ 마틴 프리드의 세번째 이 메일 (2010년 3월 25일)

Okinawa prefecture has officially listed some of the environmental damages from US bases 1996 to 2001 here:
http://www3.pref.okinawa.jp/site/view/contview.jsp?cateid=14&id=586&page=1

The existence of the vast U.S. military facilities and areas in our prefecture has had various impact on the Okinawan people's lives and the environment.
　
Hazardous impact on the health of residents living in the vicinity of the bases from daily air craft noise pollution is one of the particular issues we have. Other issues include the impact on the Okinawan people's lives and on the environment from incidents and accidents stemming from military base operations such as military aircraft (fighters, helicopters, etc.) crashes, POL (Petroleum Oil and Lubricants) and red silt outflow as well as mountain forest fires caused by live-firing exercises.
　
Further, there has been more than 5,076 cases of crime caused by the *SOFA status people since the reversion of Okinawa to mainland Japan. This number includes 531 cases of brutal crimes and 955 cases of assaults. Thus, there is fear amongst the peopole of Okinawa as to whether or not security for their daily lives can be maintained and whether their property can be preserved.

Since Okinawas reversion until the end of December 2001, U.S. military aircraft-related accidents have occurred 157 times (of which 39 were aircraft crashes). Aircraft accidents could become a tragic accident involving the lives of the local residents. Thus, these accidents are a concern to the residents living in the vicinity of the base as well as to all the other people of Okinawa.

▲U.S. Marine Corps’ UH-1N helicopter that crashed within Camp Hansen in July 1998.
　
In July 1998, a U.S. Marine UH-1N helicopter crashed within Camp Hansen. In April 1999, a CH-53E helicopter crashed in the waters off the Northern Training Area killing the four crew members on board. In addition, in June of the same year, an AV-8 Harrier crashed on the runway at Kadena Air Base after it took-off. These types of accident have greatly shocked and worries the Okinawan pepole.
　
Each time an accident or incident stemming from the U.S. military base occurs, the Okinawa Prefectural Government has petitioned the administrative organs concerned for the prevention of such accidents or incidents. We will continue to do so and make efforts to prevent damage caused by the military bases.
　
Aircraft noise has been measured at certain spots in the vicinity of Kadena Air Base and Futenma Air Station. It was found that at over half of these measuring spots, noise levels exceeded the standard set by the Environment Agency. Thus, there are concerns that the aircraft noise pollution has a negative impact on the everyday lives and health of residents in the area. Aircraft noise affects residents from an educational standpoint as well, often interrupting classes at schools in the vicinity.
　　
At the training areas in Camp Hansen, repeated live-fire exercises and mountain forest fires caused by these exercises are denuding mountain surfaces of their valuable greenery, causing our irreplaceable natural environment to be lost.
　
In addition, it is expected to take many years and an enormous amount of money to dispose of the countless number of unexploded shells within Camp Hansen.

▲U.S. military exercises often cause forest fires destroying precious greenery.
　
At Onna Communication Site, which was returned in November 1995, contaminated toxic substances, such as polychlorinated biphenyl(PCB) which exceeded the accepted environmental pollution limit, were detected in sludge left inside purification tanks. After detection, the Japanese government had to remove it.
　
In addition, the media reported in July 1998 that there had been a holding pond within Kadena Air Base used as a dumping site for waste oil containing PCB. The U.S. government conducted an environmental survey followed by the Government of Japan conducting a supplementary survey. From the results of these surveys, it was concluded that there was no impact on the health of people. However, this incident has raised the concerns of the local residents about environmental issues stemming from the U.S. military bases.


________ Martin Frid’s forth email (March 25, 2010)
________ 마틴 프리드의 네번째 이 메일 (2010년 3월 25일)

Do you have someone who can read Japanese? WWF Japan has issued several statements and reports in Japanese about the US bases and the huge environmental impact on Okinawa. For example, here is there demand that the helicopter landing strip NOT be located in the Yanbara forest, northern Okinawa, as it is home for a lot of biological diversity and unique wildlife. WWF is a global environmental organization, very respected. They are usually not so radical but WWF Japan has made a lot of effort to campaign against further destruction of Okinawa due to American military activities and US bases.

http://www.wwf.or.jp/activities/2007/06/594914.html

Official English translation (PDF)
http://www.wwf.or.jp/activities/lib/pdf/yanbaru0706e.pdf

Also, below is a translated statement from WWF Japan about Henoko, Okinawa that can be helpful for your efforts:

http://okinawaforum.org/disagreeblog/2007/05/wwfworld_wide_fund_for_nature.html

Martin


WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) Japan Statement

Following is a reproduction of a statement by WWFJapan
http://www.wwf.or.jp/

It states:

Firstly, the Ministry of Defense calls the "pre-survey" ongoing in Henoko VIOLATES Environmental Impact Assessment Law;

Secondly, the Ministry is proceeding the "pre-survey" with the details remain UNPUBLICIZED, although it is ESSENTIAL to consult experts, environmental protection agencies, and local residents in order to ascertain the best methods to adopt, causing the minimum amount of impact on the surveyed environmentsurvey; and if this "pre-survey" affects the environment, later Environmental Impact Assessments inevitablybecome INACCURATE and UNRELIABLE.

Lastly, the dispatch of members and a Maritime Self-Defense Force warship to execute a survey coercively is NOT the action of a DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT.

======================================
"A Statement of Remonstration against the breach of the Environmental Impact Assessment Law by the Japanese Ministry of Defense"
WWF-Japan
======================================

The Ministry of Defense is planning to execute a preliminary survey of the Henoko and Ooura bay, an act which runs against the Japanese Environmental Impact Assessment Law. Moreover, the Ministry is preparing to dispatch a minesweeper tender to Okinawa to aid in the survey.
WWF-Japan strongly opposes this breach of the environmental impact assessment law as well as the action of dispatching a minesweeper tender; WWF-Japan works towards the environmental conservation of the Henoko and Ooura bay, critical habitats for the Okinawan dugong. WWF-Japan hopes to maintain the environmental impact assessment law.

1. The Ministry of Defense plans to execute a preliminary survey before processing the Environmental Impact Assessment. However, this will not be a precise or open environmental assessment, since the appropriate law-abiding procedures will not be/ have not been conducted. By surveying in chambers and not creating a methodological document of the survey as part of the preparatory court pleading and drafting of the evaluation document, the Ministry merely upholds a facade of the Environmental Impact Assessment and disregards the central meaning of the Environmental Impact Assessment Law, tantamount to tort.

2. In order to survey the environment and wildlife to predict and evaluate the impact cause by such a development, it is essential to consult experts, environmental protection agencies, and local residents in order to ascertain the best methods to adopt, causing the minimum amount of impact on the surveyed environment. However, since the Ministry's action is non-disclosure, it is difficult to assess the validity of its investigative methods, as well as the possible influence of the instruments and devices it deploys. Therefore if this preliminary survey affects the environment, later Environmental Impact Assessments inevitably become inaccurate and unreliable.

3. To dispatch members and a Maritime Self-Defense Force warship to execute a survey coercively is not the action of a democratic government. The Ministry of Defense should abandon the plan to dispatch a minesweeper tender and to carry out a irrelevant preliminary survey, and should instead go through the proper legal procedures pertaining to the Environmental Impact Assessment.

For inquiries please contact:
Shin-ichi Hanawa
WWF-Japan, Nature conservation division
3-1-14 Shiba Minato-ku Tokyo 105-0014 Japan
TEL.+81-3-3769-1713，FAX.+81-3-3769-1717

___________________________________________________________________

Makiko Sato, Japan, on Takae (March 26, 2010)
마끼꼬 사또, 일본, 다까에에 관해 (2010년 3월 26일)

I'm Makiko, living in Oita, Kyushu where US military trainings are held principally every year.

This message, June 14th, 2007, of WWF are known only to those concerned here in Japan.

And it is different from the PDF message of WWF Japan which has a Japanese version as well, both of which is general information on the issue of Takae.

The 2007 message was issued to our government, so it has very technical words and was difficult to translate, but I tried as to the latter half into English for I couldn't find its English version.

Here it is, around the middle of the page.

http://www.anatakara.com/petition/judicial-system-is-not-for-oppression.html
Demanding the cancellation of the helipad construction
WWF ジャパン（世界自然保護基金ジャパン）　　　2007年6月14日
（arbitrary translation of excerpt）

But regrettably, our government will not care about such 'environmental' issue.

If they did, they would not have sued those two living in Takae.

And the US, either. Building an off-shore base off-Henoko, as the US still insist on that, will not comply to the USEPA's DEIS, but Gates has said he would challenge that.

However, I think, if the world citizens insist on the elimination of US bases from where the nature should be preserved, their attitude may be changed.

Site Fwd: Report on Environmental Damage Caused by U.S. Military Bases in South Korea

No Crimes by U.S.Troops!

Title Report on Environmental Damage Caused by U.S. Military Bases in South Korea
Name admin		Date 2009-05-16 18:23:39	Hit 9
Attach ReportonEnvironmentalDamageCausedbyU.S.MilitaryBasesinSouthKorea.pdf (961071 Bytes)		Category Environment

Report on Environmental Damage Caused by U.S. Military Bases in South Korea October, 2008 - The working group for environmental research on damage caused by the U.S. military Contents Chapter 1. Prologue Chapter 2. Environmental Damage Caused by U.S. Military Bases in Korea : Current Conditions 1. Oil Leak Incident 2. Pollution on returned bases 3. Noise Pollution Chapter 3. Solutions for environmental damage 1. Problems regarding operation and solutions 2. Problems of SOFA and the direction of amendment 3. Environmental problems and solutions for returned military bases 4. Solutions for noise pollution Chapter 4. Important cases of environmental damages 1. Oil Spill 2. Cases of noise pollution 3. Water Contamination from waste water and chemicals The working group for environmental research

Seoul workers remove underground oil leak near Yongsan Army Garrison

* Image source/ caption*
Same as article below

'Employees of Korea Rural Community & Agriculture Corporation testing samples of underground water quality at the street near the U.S. garrison in Yongsan District, Seoul on March 23.'

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/346060.html
Seoul workers remove underground oil leak near Yongsan Army Garrison:
Critics say S. Korean government should renegotiate hazardous waste clean-up with the US prior to land return.
March 25, 2009

On March 23 a group of workers gathered at the tall observation well that stands by the road linking the Samgakji subway station with the Seoul Station opposite of the Yongsan Army Garrison. The workers of Korea Rural Community Corporation are contracted with the city of Seoul to remove oil leaks from U.S. military installations. The workers come to this site once a month to clear oil found inside the observation well.

Clean-up has been taking place since July 2006 when a large amount of oil leaking from the Yongsan Army Garrison in central Seoul was found. The well’s inside has been so blackened due to oil leaks that it seems to be an endless abyss, and when the palm-sized cover of the observation well opens, an odor of oil comes out. The workers place oil detectors inside the well and use a tube to pump out the underground water. When the tube comes out, dark brown oil and underground water exude separately. The ends are place in a 500 ml bottle, and this time it took only five minutes to fill the bottle up with oil.

Since 2001, the city of Seoul has spent 2.1 billion won removing floating oil in regions near the Yongsan Garrison. Reports indicate it spend an additional 425 million won this year.

There are many other areas polluted by U.S. military installations--The area surrounding the Yongsan Army Garrison is not the only area polluted by the U.S. military. For example, around 16,000 metric meters of land near the Noksapyeong station has been deemed polluted.

On March 19, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade announced the results of its negotiations with the U.S. on the return of land used for military installation. Critics, however, say that it failed to reach an agreement on how to clear left-over hazardous waste and how to divide the cleanup costs. The ministry said that it will extend the period of field inspection from 50 days to up to 150, while introducing a “damage assessment” system prior to land return in order to determine the level of hazardous waste caused by military installation use. Green Korea, a civic group, expresses concern that the damage assessment system is based on U.S. environmental standards rather than domestic ones, and calls for the government to seek renegotiation.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]

Text Fwd: Severe pollution levels detected at 13 U.S. bases scheduled for return to S. Korea

* Image source/ caption*
As in the original article below

'PAJU -- Defense Ministry officials and members of environmental organizations examine samples taken from Camp Edwards in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, on January 10, 2008.'

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/344760.html

Severe pollution levels detected at 13 U.S. bases scheduled for return to S. Korea
Lead levels far exceed the S. Korean standard, and the cleanup costs for S. Korea could reach into the trillions of won

PAJU -- Defense Ministry officials and members of environmental organizations examine samples taken from Camp Edwards in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, on January 10, 2008.

Severe pollution levels have been detected at 13 United States military bases nationwide scheduled to be returned to South Korea, with lead levels detected at more than 150 times the standard value at one U.S. firing range.

On Tuesday, The Hankyoreh obtained a copy of the results of pollution studies for 13 U.S. military bases scheduled for return to South Korea, showing that the lead levels of 15,200 parts per million detected at the Texas firing range in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, were more than 150 times the South Korean pollution cleanup standard of 100 parts per million. Copper levels were detected at 792 parts per million, 16 times the standard value of 50 parts per million. Zinc levels in the soil at the site of the Stanley highway expansion in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, were detected at 1,137 parts per million, far in excess of the standard level of 300 parts per million.

In an area of 13,760㎡[square meter] of land scheduled for return at a Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office in Busan’s Busanjin-gu, more than one third of the total area of 34,925㎡[square meter], lead was detected at 1,293 parts per million (13 times the standard), mercury at 243 parts per million (60 times) and zinc at 1,275 parts per million (3 times). The total petroleum hydrocarbon value, which shows the state of petroleum-related pollution, at 18,923 parts per million, reached some 37 times the standard value of 500 parts per million. The area is scheduled for return to South Korea in 2010.

These data are the result of a study of environmental pollution at U.S. military bases conducted by the U.S. military and the South Korean government. The U.S. military and the government’s Ministry of the Environment jointly conducted pollution surveys at 41 U.S. bases in connection with the bases’ cleanup costs, and the government has until now refused to announce the pollution status at 13 of the “sites scheduled for return.”


Experts predict that pollution levels and cleanup costs will increase by a large margin when the bases are actually returned to South Korea. Indeed, in the case of 23 bases returned in 2007, the initial committee study showed cleanup costs of only 119.7 billion won (US$84.6 million), but a Defense Ministry project estimate in August 2008 put them at 190.7 billion won, and a detailed study in November had the figure increasing to 320 billion won.

“Not only are the environmental problems severe at the 13 undisclosed bases, pollutants continue to be discharged even now in cases like the Yongsan Garrison and Camp Long in Wonju,” said Green Korea United Manager Hwang Min-hyeok. “If discussions for the bases’ return continue without any revision to the Status of Forces Agreement, at a level that can be agreed upon mutually with regard to the treatment levels and procedures, we will end up bearing expenses in the trillions of won,” Hwang added.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]