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HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – In February, the U.S. Marine Corps took two dozen soil samples across 3,000 feet of shoreline by the Puuloa Range Training Facility in Ewa Beach to test for toxic chemicals.
Now in a draft report, the military tests found elevated levels of heavy metals.
“The results of this investigation also found lead, antimony, and copper in the soil behind the firing berms, where active firing does not occur, but still in an area located within the range. The presence of metals in this area can likely be attributed to historic firing berm and shoreline maintenance activities,” said the report.
“As Puuloa Range is an active firing range, and closed to the public, no further immediate action is warranted at this time. However, the results of this site investigation indicate long-term monitoring and management practices are warranted to regularly observe conditions of the firing berms and coastline system,” the report added.
Ewa resident and biologist Alexander Gaos wants the Marines to stop shooting at the range.
“I’m extremely worried. I live right next to range,” he said.
“There is a toxic site located in the middle of a community. What the most recent testing demonstrates is that lead is migrating out outside of the berms and outside of the range where it can interact with the environment and contaminate the public,” Gaos said.
“It’s leaching through this area into the ocean,” said environmental and Native Hawaiian rights attorney Diego Rivera.
“As the wave action pounds away at those berms, it’s going to pull that lead into the ocean,” he added.
The range is on federal property. In a petition, community members are demanding that the Marines immediately stop live fire exercises at the facility and the Department of Defense and Congress to look for an alternative site.
“They are taking a lot of the Red Hill PR playbook, which is deny these results until something very serious happens,” said Gaos.
In a letter to the Marines, the state health department wants ground water monitoring wells installed.
“The elevated concentrations of these contaminants in the soil along the boundary of the USMC property indicate a potential release or potential threat of a release to the adjacent beach area and state waters,” said DOH on Aug. 13.
“The elevated concentrations of these contaminants in the soil at these ranges may also have resulted in releases to the underlying groundwater,” the letter added.
The Marine Corps is holding an open house Wednesday at the Puuloa Range Training Facility, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The public is advised to use the Kapilina Gate since the Ft. Weaver side gate is closed.
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