Teno gives green light to PCB cleanup

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has given the U.S. Army Corps the go signal for the cleanup of Cemetery no. 2 which has been contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) so that it can be used by the community in time for All Soul’s Day.

A meeting was held Friday attended by the governor, representatives from the Army Corps, the Attorney General’s Office, the Division of Environmental Quality and the Tanapag Action Group (TAG) where details of the cleanup were discussed.

A contract is expected to be signed by July 15 between the Army Corps and the Guam-based IT Corp., which will carry out the cleanup.
Immediately, a workplan will be submitted by the contractor for approval by DEQ and the TAG. The removal of contaminated soil is expected to begin on Aug. 15, 2000.

Based on the plan, IT Corp. will dig up the soil first in the areas where there is high PCB contamination. Other areas in the village which are still tainted with high PCB level will also be included in the cleanup at a later date. The PCB contaminated soil will be placed in a synthetic liner for safekeeping while awaiting the equipment to be used for the cleanup.

Using the low thermal desorption process, the equipment for the soil treatment will be shipped to the island by January 2001 since the company that manufactures the machine will have to assemble a smaller model to be used in Saipan.

Maj. Dave Goddard of the U.S. Army Corps assured the Tanapag community and the CNMI government that they are committed to meeting the All Soul’s Day deadline.

“This is one of a kind technology which has been used in New Jersey with great success. In order to get the equipment here, it has to be redesigned and downsized. We would like to move things faster but it really takes time,” Maj. Goddard said.

DEQ Director Ike Cabrera said testings will be conducted as the contractor digs up the soil to make sure that it is clean. A representative from the Environmental Protection Agency will be around to oversee the whole operation.

Dr. Ian Osgerby, senior chemical engineer of the Army Corps, said the low thermal desorption process is the best that the Army Corps can provide in the cleanup of Tanapag.
He used the technology before in cleaning up the site in New Jersey, which was also PCB contaminated.

Community

The leaders of the community welcomed the cleanup efforts, but were mum on the technology that will be used in removing PCB.

“We do not have the technical expertise to say that it is the best. We recognize that we are handicapped in making any assessment that the process is the best,” said Juan Tenorio, TAG chair.

During the meeting, Mr. Tenorio emphasized the wish of the community to immediately begin the cleanup so that people can troop to the cemetery on Nov. 1.

In case the technology does not work, Mr. Tenorio said the community is just hoping that the Army Corps has an alternative plan to carry out the cleanup.

Community leaders also sought the Army Corps and DEQ to immediately establish a Restoration Advisory Board that will pave the way for the hiring of a technical expert who will help conduct a study and evaluate the job of the Army Corps.

Under the policy of the Department of Defense, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must set up an RAB in every Formerly Used Defense Site. Each RAB is entitled to receive $25,000 or more for technical assistance.

Mr. Tenorio said the community wants samples of soil brought to either Japan or Australia for independent testing to make sure that it is indeed PCB-free.