[CPEO-MEF] MUNITIONS: Controlled Detonation Chamber in Vieques (PR)

[Lenny Siegel <lennysiegel@gmail.com>]

 From Comité Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques:

Dr. Jorge L. Colón
Departamento de Química
Universidad de Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931-3346

ENGLISH VERSION

A day before the 9th anniversary of the death of David Sanes in Vieques 
from a US Navy bomb, once again the Navy and the company contracted for 
environmental clean up - CH2MHill - lie to the Viequenses and the people 
of Puerto Rico.

In articles published on April 18, both the Navy and CH2MHill indicated 
thousands of bombs they are exploding in Vieques cannot be detonated in 
the controlled detonation chamber because - even though CH2MHill builds 
it (Model T-10), it's very small for the type of large bombs found in 
Vieques

The Navy, as well as CH2MHill lie. CH2MHill also builds controlled 
detonation chambers much larger than those mentioned in the articles 
(Models T-25, T-30, D-60, D-100 and D-200).

I have presented this situation to the Navy, to CH2MHill, the 
Environmental Quality Board and the EPA at several meetings of the 
Restoration Advisory Board in Vieques, indicating that CH2MHill has 
shown at international conferences about military clean up and that is 
has built larger detonation chambers being used experimentally in the US 
and in other parts of the world, by the US Department of Defense.

Some of these chambers can withstand detonation of bombs up to 250 
pounds and larger chambers are will be available in the near future.

We are not convinced by the Navy's argument that they cannot bring one 
or more of these chambers to Vieques to detonate a large number of the 
bombs found, because these large chambers are experimental, very costly 
and do not have approval from related agencies.

We believe that just as Vieques could be a model of sustainable 
development for our country if the community recommendations in the 
Guidelines for Sustainable Development of Vieques, it could also be a 
model for the world in the use of these chambers that avoid dispersing 
dangerous contaminants into the environment during detonation of bombs 
in closed bases and war zones.

Only one powerful reason impedes this from happening: the Navy would 
have to spend more to buy the chambers from CH2MHill and bring them to 
Vieques. CH2MHill has a multimillion dollar contract from the Navy for 
the Vieques clean up.

It's not going to bite the hand that feeds it, therefore, it does not 
mention the larger chambers; however, all Puerto Rico, particularly the 
government regulatory agencies, should demand the installation in 
Vieques of the largest detonation chambers as a condition for 
continuation of the clean up process.



-- 


Lenny Siegel
Executive Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
a project of the Pacific Studies Center
278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org



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