[CPEO-MEF] DOD Plans to Import 3 Million Pounds of PCB Waste fromJapan to Cal

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

Enviro-Defense League
PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
For More Information Contact:
Dave Roth at "EnviroDefleague@aol.com"

DOD Plans to Import 3 Million Pounds of PCB Waste from Japan to
California for Disposal in Nevada, Kansas and West Virginia

Washington July 15, 2003.  The United States military has a large
quantity of PCB waste in Japan that requires proper disposal.  DOD
estimates the roughly 7 million pounds of PCB waste will need disposal
through 2015.  The United States Military has tried in the past to  ship
PCB waste back to the continental United States but was forced to
abandon the effort because of legal issues surrounding the Toxic
Substance Control Act.

The United States military is again attempting to ship PCBs from Japan
and Wake Island to the United States.  DOD has petitioned the EPA and
on January 31, 2003 received a 1 year exception to the Toxic Substance
Control Act to import 3 million pounds of PCP waste from Japan and  Wake
Island (Fed Reg January 31, 2003-Volume 68, Number 21).  The  vessel
will be a dedicated ship under contract to the Military Traffic
Management Command (MTMC) which will begin loading in Japan around  July
18, 2003 and will call into Port Hueneme, California mid to late  August
2003.  From there the DOD plans to truck the PCB's to Nevada,  Kansas
and West Virginia for disposal.

In a letter to Vice Admiral Keith W. Lippert, Director, Defense
Logistics Agency Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-CA) questioned the need  to
ship the waste to the Continental United States for disposal as  opposed
to finding an in country solution   Capps also asked DLA to  refrain
from proceeding with this shipment until her office evaluate  the
situation and any alternative means for dispose of the PCBs in  country.


The PCBs are being shipped in regular 20 foot lift vans. Once the
shipments reach Port Hueneme, California they will be loaded onto
trucks and sent to one of three places, Clean Harbors Coffeyville, LLC
in Coffeyville, KS; U.S. Ecology in Beatty, NV  89003; and,
Environmental Protection Services in Wheeling, WV.

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Other documents:
Letter to Defense Logisitics Agency (DLA):
http://www.cpeo.org/pubs/Letter%20to%20DLA%20-%20PCB.pdf

Congresswoman Capps Letter:
http://www.cpeo.org/pubs/PCBCapps.pdf

Federal Register Notice:
http://www.cpeo.org/pubs/DODFRM01-31-03.pdf

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