2024-10-05 10:10:00
According to interviews with sources including the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, in August this year, a leak of water contaminated by organofluorine compounds (PFAS) containing suspected carcinogens occurred at the U.S. Army Yokota Air Base (Fussa City, Tokyo, etc.). The U.S. military in Japan acknowledged for the first time the possibility of soldiers leaking secrets. In a series of leaks in the past, the U.S. military has consistently denied that any leaks occurred outside the base. (Kyota Matsushima, Eriko Oshikawa)
◆About 47,000 liters of PFAS-contaminated water flooded surrounding areas.
On the 3rd, the Kita-Kanto Defense Bureau of the Ministry of Defense reported the leak to Tokyo and other authorities as U.S. information. According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, on August 30, heavy rains caused about 47,000 liters of PFAS-contaminated water to spill onto the surrounding asphalt and flow into the stormwater ditch of the base fire training ground reservoir. The United States admits that the possibility of leakage outside the base is high.
On the 4th, a committee composed of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and surrounding local governments will provide detailed information to Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, including the impact of tap water on groundwater, why PFAS was found at the base, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government will conduct on-site inspections of the case. investigation. He pointed out that it took more than a month from the incident to the provision of information. “It is very regrettable because this may lead to distrust among residents.”
◆ “All rainwater ditches in the base will eventually reach the Tama River.”
Internal US military documents obtained by the “Tokyo Shimbun” show that an investigation conducted in November last year showed that the contaminated water in the reservoir contained a total of 1,620 nanograms of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) per liter. In line with interim guidance set out by the government, it is equivalent to 32 times the value. Another source said, “All storm drains on the base will eventually reach the Tama River.” A base official noted, “It is possible that contaminated water seeped into the soil.”
According to interviews with this newspaper and the Department of Defense, a total of eight PFAS leaks occurred at the base between 2010 and 2023. The US military denied any leaks outside the base. The Tokyo metropolitan government has asked the central government to investigate due to concerns about possible groundwater contamination, but has not called for on-site inspections.
◆Ministry of Defense official: “Tokyo has reason to request on-site investigation this time.”
The Supplementary Environmental Agreement signed between Japan and the United States in 2015 stipulates that Japan can request access to the base for inspection after receiving a leak report from the United States. Officials from the Japanese Ministry of Defense pointed out, “This time is different from the past. The US military claimed responsibility for the pollution outside the base. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has good reasons for requesting an on-site investigation.”
This newspaper sent an email to U.S. Forces Japan headquarters regarding the leak, but had not received a response as of deadline.
A person in charge of the Tokyo Metropolitan Base Countermeasures Department said, “We will consider conducting on-site inspections after reviewing various information. We will cooperate with local governments around the base and request necessary countermeasures.”
Yokota Air Base and PFAS contamination issuesA survey by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government detected PFAS in a monitoring well located about 1 km southeast of the base. The content was approximately 27 times the guideline value, the highest in the Tokyo area. The base used fire-extinguishing foam containing PFAS, which is suspected to have occurred during a leak accident or fire training exercise, and is suspected to be related to the contamination of water source wells in the Tama area. The U.S. military denies any connection between groundwater contamination and the base.
1728159249
#military #admitted #time #PFAS #contaminated #water #suspected #leaked #Yokota #Air #Base #heavy #rains #August #finally #information #Tokyo #Shimbun #TOKYO #Web
