ARMY CONFIRMS DU AT POHAKULOA
by Bob Nichols, Project Censored Award Winner
Tuesday Aug 21st, 2007 9:19 AM
Source:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/08/21/18442024.php
(San Francisco) - August 21, 2007 - The Hawaiian Islands are contaminated by
radiation from uranium shells the US Army confirmed Monday, August 20th, 2007 in
a "Media Release."
This terrible disaster to one of the formerly most beautiful scenic spots on
earth was also confirmed earlier by sitting US Senator from Hawaii, Daniel
Inouye.
There was no word if the radiation has penetrated to the water table yet from
the Hawaii Health Department. The Health Department is "cooperating" with the
Army to "contain" the panic and "reassure" the public.
Fearful and distrusting members of the public are buying their own Radiation
Monitors in Hawaii.
The Army Media Release is attached. It speaks for itself. The Army has
contaminated the Hawaiian Paradise forever.
[End]
Mr Nichols is a correspondent for the San Francisco Bay View newspaper and
a Project Censored Award winning writer. You may reach Mr Nichols by Email at
duweapons@gmail.com
NOTE:
SEE PRESS RELEASE: ARMY CONFIRMS DU AT POHAKULOA by Clicking Here!
Related Article:
Depleted uranium detected on Big Isle
By William Cole (Advertiser Military Writer)
August 21, 2007
Source:
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070821/NEWS0101/708210343/1003/NEWS0101
The Army yesterday confirmed that depleted uranium from a 1960s weapons system
has been found at Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island.
How much of the material was detected remained unclear. The Army said initial
testing was done to determine the presence of depleted uranium, or DU, not the
quantity of it. There is no public access to the area where the heavy metal was
found.
In January 2006, the Army confirmed it had found 15 projectile tailfin
assemblies that contained depleted uranium at a Schofield Barracks munitions
impact range.
The depleted uranium was used in XM-101 aiming rounds that simulated the
trajectory of the Davy Crockett, a formerly classified recoilless rifle that
could fire a 76-pound nuclear bomb.
The Army yesterday said the DU at Pohakuloa Training Area is the same type of
material found at Schofield.
Earlier this summer, the Army said it had found more depleted uranium fragments
at Schofield, and that the aiming rounds also may have been fired at Makua
Valley and Pohakuloa.
Contractor Cabrera Services conducted an aerial survey of the impact area at
Pohakuloa from Thursday to Saturday as part of the Army's efforts to determine
the extent of DU use in Hawai'i.
The Army previously said it was unaware of the presence of the weakly
radioactive element until a contractor removing unexploded ordnance for the
Stryker brigade discovered it in 2005 at Schofield.
Concern by some Big Island residents that depleted uranium might be getting
kicked up, spread on the wind and possibly inhaled led to the testing.
An aerial survey of the impact area at Makua Military Reservation was conducted
Aug. 13-14. The Army said the survey was inconclusive because the ground could
not be seen because of heavy vegetation.
Depleted uranium was used for spotting, or aiming, rounds for the Davy Crockett
because its density mimicked the trajectory of the 76-pound warhead.
A gray cylinder 3 to 6 feet long that was fired would fall away, while the DU
aiming round would continue to travel farther, the Army said. The presence of
the cylinders is being used as a predictor of DU.
The Army said soil samples were taken at Makua and Pohakuloa, and those samples
are being sent to an independent lab for testing.
"Now that DU has been confirmed at Pohakuloa, the Army will coordinate with the
state of Hawai'i and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to determine the next
steps," the service said.
State testing in May found normal radiation levels in the air near Pohakuloa
Training Area.
The Army earlier this month said it was monitoring air quality during a
controlled burn at a Schofield Barracks target range in response to concerns
that the fires could put fine particles of depleted uranium in the air.
The controlled burn on 1,100 acres of munitions impact area was done to minimize
the chance of brushfires and to prepare the area for testing for the presence of
DU.
Lab results from air samples of Schofield's controlled burn July 30 to Aug. 2
showed no DU health hazard from the accompanying smoke, the Army said.
Reach William Cole at
wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com.