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Don’t dump PCB in CNMI
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Posted on May 05 2000
Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio yesterday appealed to the U.S. government against dumping military waste contaminated with the polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) on Guam or any of the Pacific islands, including the Northern Marianas.
“As much as possible we would like to see that the military or any of the responsible agency find a location that will be a safe place for those [PCB-contaminated waste],” he told reporters yesterday.
Mr. Tenorio joined other Pacific leaders who have protested the decision by the U.S. military to send the shipment to Guam or any Pacific island after Canada rejected them.
Over 100 tons of transformers, circuit breakers, oil and other military waste contaminated with PCB have been sailing across the Pacific since March aboard the Panamanian-registered vessel Wan He.
The shipment was first destined for a recycling plant in Canada, but protests at the port in Vancouver forced the ship to sail towards Seattle. There dock workers refused to off-load the containers of hazardous waste, forcing Wan He to return to Yokohama in Japan where it originated.
Pentagon is reportedly considering sending the PCB waste to Guam or to Johnston Atoll, a military holding site for chemical and biological weapons.
“I hope the federal government will seriously consider not bringing in any PCB or anything that will contaminate the island, not only Guam but especially here in the CNMI,” said Mr. Tenorio, adding the Commonwealth has already raised its concerns to Washington.
On Wednesday, CNMI Resident Representative to Washington Juan N. Babauta voiced out his concerns as he noted that the military has even yet to address the PCB problems in Tanapag and Guam. Agana has also protested the plan.
The waste originated in Japan, where local protests over pollution from U.S. bases have been escalating in recent years. The issue is expected to be on the agenda when Japanese Prime Minister Mori and President Clinton meet during the G-8 conference in Okinawa from July 21 to 23. (Benhur C. Saladores)
