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ARMY PLANS DEPLETED URANIUM INVESTIGATION IN

HAWAII -- The U.S. Army said a report will be done

by the first of the year on radioactive waste found

at firing ranges on Oahu and the Big Island.

 

 

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Army Plans Depleted Uranium Investigation In Hawaii

Environmental Groups Question Potential Health Problems
 

HONOLULU -- The U.S. Army said a report will be done by the first of the year on radioactive waste found at firing ranges on Oahu and the Big Island.

At high levels, depleted uranium can cause serious health problems.

Environmental watchdog groups have long worried about depleted uranium and distrust what they have been told in the past.

Two weeks ago a faulty meter used by a Big Island resident showed alarming radioactivity in South Kona just down from the Army's Pohakuloa Training Area, state health officials said.

"The problem in this case was that the resident had a meter that was not calibrated and was reading 100 times or more and that constituted a false alarm," said Russell Taketa of the Department of Health.

"The DU (depleted uranium) was found in a remote area. It is not accessible to the public. In fact, soldiers are not allowed to go into the area. As of right now, it does not pose any heath issues," Col. Matthew Margotta said.

The Army has hired an environmental company to assess the extent of the contamination.

It said it will conduct a transparent process with input from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and University of Hawaii scientists.

The Army said it is also testing the streams in the area because once it rains a lot of the soil washes downhill.

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Larry Scott  --