PCB remediation in I-Denni resumes after 3-week suspension

After a three-week suspension while waiting for additional funding, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ excavation of polychlorinated biphenyl- and lead-contaminated soil in I-Denni resumed on April 16.

The I-Denni pit was used by the U.S. military during and after World War II as a waste repository. It has been identified as a formerly used defense site, FUDS.

The volume of PCB- and lead-tainted soil so far excavated has already reached 2,542 cubic yards-some 323 percent higher than the original estimate of only up to 600 cubic yards.

PCB and lead are toxic chemicals associated with serious health and environmental concerns.

Joseph Bonfiglio, chief of public affairs at the Army Corps-Honolulu District, said the Army Corps has obtained additional funding that they believe will be enough to complete the remedial action work, expected to be completed on or about May 13, 2012.

“The Corps takes pride in providing a safe and clean environment. Our work is done to the highest standards of safety and we are committed to the health and safety of the public and our workers,” Bonfiglio told Saipan Tribune via email.

Rep. Sylvester Iguel (Cov-Saipan), chairman of the House Committee on Health, said he gives credit to Army Corps for pushing for additional funding to resume the remediation.

“Army Corps is not stopping. I give them credit for that. We all know that even the federal government has financial problems but Army Corps is making sure they will be able to finish their I-Denni project to clean up the area of PCB and other contaminants,” Iguel said.

The I-Denni project was originally budgeted for $603,543.73 but the volume of contaminated soil excavated was much higher than originally estimated and needed more funding.

The Army Corps is currently in contract negotiations and cannot disclose the amount of funding available to complete the Edoni Site remedial action work, Bonfiglio said.

Hawaii-based Wil-Chee Planning Inc. is the Army Corps’ contractor for the project.

Of the 2,542 cubic yards of tainted soil excavated so far, 1,480 cubic yards are lead-contaminated, based on figures provided by Bonfiglio. The rest or 1,062 cubic yards are PCB-contaminated.

The highest level of PCB concentration detected in I-Denni remains at 6.1 milligrams per kilogram or parts per million. The cleanup level for PCB is 1.1 parts per million.

The highest lead concentration detected is 2,500 milligrams per kilogram.

PCB-contaminated soil are bound for Beatty, Nevada for proper disposal, while lead-tainted soil are brought to the Marpi landfill.

The I-Denni area is a future site of a planned homestead subdivision. But before the Department of Public Lands could proceed with the homestead project, it wants the site cleaned up.

The I-Denni project comes nine years after the completion of the $20 million PCB contamination cleanup in Tanapag in 2003 involving 40,000 tons of PCB-contaminated soil.

Saipan was the site of heavy fighting between U.S. and Japanese forces during World War II. To this day, live ordnance and chemicals from the war are still being discovered in several areas of the island.