Press Statement on Pohakuloa Military brush fire
Press Release for Immediate Release Sunday, April 3, 2016 at 1:30PM
Re:Concern over the brush fire in the Pohakuloa Military Impact Area
further contact: Jim Albertini 966-7622, ja@malu-aina.org
Concern over the brush fire in the Pohakuloa Military Impact Area
It’s not the threat of the PTA fire spreading off the base that is an issue. It’s what’s blowing in the smoke and wind from that fire that’s been burning for 10 days. Pohakuloa has been bombed for 70 years with a wide variety of weapons. There is Depleted uranium (DU) and other military toxins in the Pohakuloa Impact area, the amount never adequately studied despite repeated requests. Neither the military, nor the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), nor the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) know where all the DU is located and how much is there. DU in oxide form is extremely dangerous when inhaled and can cause cancers, birth defects and genetic damage. Speaking as a private citizen, Dr. Lorrin Pang, MD. said “What we are worried about with the brush fire is aerosolizing the DU Oxides which were already in the dust from repeated bombing of the site (conventional bombing of Davy Crockett fragments or use of undeclared DU weaponry itself).” Aerosolizing other toxins from various munitions fired at PTA is also a concern. Comprehensive, independent air monitoring down wind needs to be done to see what toxins may be in the smoke of the Pohakuloa fire. That’s the immediate issue that’s important. It’s already 10 days late, but better late than never. The Army, Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and the Hawaii Department of Health have not acted in the best interest of public health and safety. All we have is speculation and assumptions by these entities that there is no problem.. We need much more thorough analysis of what toxins are in the impact area and what’s coming off the base on a routine basis blowing in the wind of ongoing high explosives. There are at least 57 present and former military sites on Hawaii Island involving more than 250 thousand acres that contain unexploded ordnance and/or a wide variety of military toxins. The military is good at making a mess but very poor in cleaning up their mess. We deserve better, especially for the health of Hawaii’s children.
Signers:
Clarence Ku Ching
Isaac “Paka” Harp
Cory Harden
Dr./Major Doug Rokke, former Director US Army DU project
Dr. Carol Murry, DrPH
Jim Albertini, president of Malu ‘Aina
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Jim Albertini Malu ‘Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Ola’a (Kurtistown) Hawai’i 96760 Phone 808-966-7622 Email ja@malu-aina.org www.malu-aina.org
