Lawmaker says DEQ must search for used oil, abandoned dumpsite

The government must scour the boonies and other remote areas on the islands to find other drums of used oil and wastes which a lawmaker yesterday claimed were dumped and abandoned by the U.S. military for the last several decades.

Rep. Stanley T. Torres likewise asked local authorities to seek assistance from the federal government to cleanup the mess that is now being discovered in several areas on Saipan.

Citing the discovery 24 drums of used oil in Dandan the other day, he claimed these were left behind by the military as the site where they were found was once an airfield by U.S. Air Force right after World War II.

Called the Isley Airfield, it was the area where several fighter planes, jets and helicopters landed and the used oil might have come from the replacement made by U.S. servicemen to the fleet, Mr. Torres said.

“It was not intended for the wastes to be abandoned, but at that time there were no agencies like the [Division of Environmental Quality] to order to properly dispose the used oil,” he told in an interview.

Noting that other areas on the island might also have been dumping grounds, Mr. Torres called on authorities to search the boonies and the remote hills where he said drums containing used oil were thrown away.

“The CNMI government should explore the whole island and we should ask the federal government to help us cleanup these areas of wastes,” he added.

The representative from Saipan yesterday visited the site pointed by DEQ where officials found the 55-gallon drum. Mr. Torres said it is the only one visible from passersby, but others inaccessible to residents may turn out to be dumping grounds as well.

The 24 drums, most of which have contaminated the soil, were discovered in the property of businessman Joe Reyes in Dandan while they were clearing the area for a private hangar.

DEQ is now conducting an investigation to find out those responsible for polluting the environment as illegal dumping of used oil or any hazardous material carries a maximum fine of $25,000 per day for each violation. Officials said the drums were old and could have come during the military occupation of the island.

In recent months, the agency has uncovered other areas where drums of used oil were illegally dumped, including Finasisu, Marpi, Tanapag, Santa Lourdes and As Teo. Some were already leaking when found.

It has expressed concern on the potential adverse effects of illegal dumping of used motor oil on the environment, particularly the possible contamination to groundwater and surface water. It may also destroy vegetation and soil fertility and endanger human health and wildlife.