EPA to Deny Navy Permit for Vieques Offshore Bombing

[aimeeh@cpeo.org]

An article appearing in yesterday's (Wednesday, September 2)San 
Juan Star recounts US EPA's intent to deny renewal of the Navy's 
permit to drop bombs in the waters off the island of Vieques.

EPA has listed a total of 112 violations using the Navy's own 
documentation/figures.  A National Pollution Discharge 
Elimination System (NPDES) permit is required for the Navy to 
drop bombs in the water (it appears this also covers a lagoon 
system located on the bombing range).  However the permit does 
not cover land ranges where EPA has no authority.

In a written statement to the presidential panel tasked with 
looking into the Navy's continued presence on Vieques, EPA Region 
2 Deputy Regional Administrator Bill Muszynski says, "Since the 
EPA has determined that the Navy has violated the NPDES permit 
and has not demonstrated an ability to comply with the permit, 
EPA will publish a notice of intent to deny the permit 
application in November 1999 and inform the Navy in writing of 
the basis for denial."

Contaminants violating the federal standards include 
boron,cadmium, copper, iron, lead, maganese, mercury, oil and 
grease, phenolics, selenium, silver, sulfide, and zinc.

Further the Environmental Quality Board plans to deny the Navy a 
Water Quality Certificate unless given full access to the Navy 
installation in order to take samples.  The Navy has refused 
entrance to a contract worker for EQB who was to take soil 
samples from the target range saying that EQB has no authority 
over the target range soil quality.  The Navy however needs the 
Water Quality Permit in order to obtain the NPDES from EPA.  But 
EPA has the final say, as they can deny the NPDES permit 
regardless of how EQB rules.

Aimee Houghton
Associate Director, CPEO
122 C Street NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC  20001-2109
tel: 202-662-1888; Fax: 202-628-1825
aimeeh@cpeo.org
http://www.cpeo.org