Contamination probe is done, results in 6 months

The investigation on silk-screening companies Everbright and He Cheng has been completed, with sampling data to be reported in when the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its report in about six months.

The investigation was conducted as part of the Division of Environmental Quality’s Site Assessment and Remediation Branch’s programs that assess, investigate and remediate contaminated sites in the Commonwealth.

According to Jim Callier, DEQ technical adviser, soil borings were conducted at each site facility to determine whether hazardous wastes had been release into the environment.

“Water samples were taken from 29 water wells within the 1-mile radius of the two facilities to determine whether hazardous substances may have entered the groundwater from the soil at the facilities and affected nearby drinking water wells,” said Callier.

All samples were sent to EPA Region IX for analysis.

“The samples will be analyzed for metals and volatile organic compounds, ” said Ray Masga, manager for the Site Assessment and Remediation branch.

The Site Assessment and Remediation Branch has been working with EPA for the past five years in conducing site assessments under Superfund to address environmental issues relating to site contamination. It primarily addresses environmental issues relating to site contamination as a result of the release of hazardous substances and to provide working experience for DEQ staff as they start to do their own site inspections.

The branch has also been working with EPA to implement a state response program under the Brownfields program to assess and clean up sites for redevelopment.

In addition, it also oversees the Formerly Used Defense Sites program or FUDS, which focuses on site contamination caused by military activities in the CNMI.

“All these programs, in one form or another, are aimed to identify facilities that are impacting the environment in the CNMI and to get those facilities to comply with all environmental regulations,” said Masga.

The Site Assessment and Remediation Branch ensures that cleanup actions are implemented in accordance with the appropriate and relevant laws and regulations such that the contaminated sites are cleaned up based on appropriate cleanup levels or standards protective to the public health and the environment. (PR)