HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0613.002 2002-2004 COMMENTS ON BILL 267 RE. ORDNANCE REGISTRY
for County Finance Committee, Tuesday, May 18, 10 AM
Cory Harden, PO Box 10265, Hilo 96721 mh~interpac.net 968965
I'm speaking in favor of Bill 267, for several reasons.
T~
It appears that if Ilve ordnance was found on vour land. you may never know.
This is a letter from Donaldson ordnance removal company, dated 1990. Whether the lavu~as s
changed since then, I don't know. ~
G. r
I want to say first that the Donaldson company took a great deal of time to share information x
about old ordnance with Environment Hawaii newspaper years ago.
The letter says if Donaldson removes ordnance for a private landowner "we are discreet and-this
is advantageous if live ordnance is uncovered." c~
- s -
Live ordnance can be found, and no one will ever know. This may be legal, but is it right? ~
Cleanup does not mean "clean."
One-fourth of Waikoloa Maneuver Area is not even being investigated for cleanup-because
landowners refuse right of entry, or active training is going on.
Deep gullies were not searched by Donaldson, or by a 1990 Army survey of WMA.
There are reports of old ordnance remaining after cleanup of Hilo Bay.
"The technology ...can't get all of it." This is according to an Army ordnance specialist.
We will have old ordnance on this Island for centuries.
The Army doesn't Gean up site by site, but hazard by hazard across all sites. So we end up with
many sites partially cleaned up.
But et present funding levels, the Army says it will take centuries to clean everything up. Our
children and grandchildren will be living with old ordnance. They should at least know where it
is.
There are numerous old sites•-more than 50. scattered all around the island. map, news
Children dug up live grenades at Waimea Middle School in 2002.
Hundreds of old shells were found in Hilo Bay in 2000.
Ordnance was found at Hapuna Beach in 1995, 1997, and 1998, some in water only 30 feet
deep, some only 100 yards from shore.
Ordnance doesn't improve with ape.
As time passes it becomes unstable and explodes more easily.
Fire can set it off, as in Kawaihae in 1998.
If it's underwater, currents can bang it against coral or rocks and set it off .
Explosion isn't the only danger. As it deteriorates it can release toxins, including heavy metals,
into the ground and water.
So we should at least have a registry. But who will pay for it9
There was money to buy aircraft and large and small guns to fire the ordnance, money to ship
everything to Hawaii, and money to pay soldiers to fire it. But now that our children are digging
up grenades, suddenly there's no money. Total cleanup of Waikoloa Maneuver Area could cost
$800 million--and so far only $10 million is set aside.
But it's the Army that brought these hazards to our island, and it's the Anny that should fund the
registry.
Comm. Np. ~3•?i
Ref. To; -
Ref. Uate MAY 1 R app;
~
r,~l~o
DONALDSON ENTERPRISES,INC.
ECD Services
45-645 Pua Alo Walo Street
Raneohe,Hawaii 96744
Tele/Fax (808) 235-BOMB
10-6-90
Aina Lani Associates
Mr. Stienwascher
Geri Ung
RE: Dud Ordnance Survey and Hazard Assessment at Waikoloa, -
South Rohala,Hawaii X866 Acres)
As per your request a EOD Survey was conducted at Waikaloa
Hawaii on an area consisting of approximately 866 acres from
9-26-90 to 9-30-90.The survey consisted of walking as much of
the site as was practical and investigating those areas which
had high probability of ordnance contamination (former target
areas).
From the amount and type of metal fragments located at the
site indicate that the area was an artillery firing range.
Subsecuent interviews with law enforcement and military
personnel confirmed this. These interviews did not in any way
compromise the clients confidentiality did, however,
reveal that the entire Waikaloa area had reports of
unexploded ordnance in a limited number.
The expended lOSmm illumination round that was located and
investigated by myself on 9-26-90,was the only intact item of
ordnance that was discovered during the entire 5 day survey.
In my opinion, there are no more indications of ordnance
related hazards existing on the surface of your 866 acre
parcel. In the 10 areas that I tested for subsurface ordnance
gave no indication that there may be buried unexploded
ordnance on the site.The reason that I feel the ordnance
problem at your site is limited to a nuisance status rather
than a contamination problem is; 1. Several ordnance sweeps
were conducted by military personnel in the years following
release of the property 2. Sparse ground cover aided in the
visual detection of uxo's 3. Nayagaitabie terrain 4. The area
was swept before the ordnance was able to pick up the
characteristics of the surrounding soils. 5. Limited use -
one type of ordnance and was utilized from 1943 to 194.?rpm
the investigation of fragments it appears that only artillery
ammunition was fired into this area.I found no indication
tha*_ anything less than lOSmm was utilized and orobabl_v
155mm rounds.Althouch large in size (3 to 6inches in
diameter) it is much Bette: to search for these type of
munitions than bazookas or grenades.6. The walk through
survey revealed no indication that any more uxo's existed.
I do recommend that upon comoletior. of your develooement
page 2
Waikaloa
those areas that were not affected by the developement
process (ie; deers gullies etc ) be checked to ensure that
Murphy's law is covered. Zf no more ordnance is uncovered
during the developement phase this might not be required. At
this time the expenditure of funds for a complete EOD sweep
of the site is not justified in lieu of what I viewed during
the EOD survey. _
If any ordnance is subsequently discovered during the
develcpement of this site you have two methods of dealing
with it, 1.Notify the Waimea pD who will notify the Army °OD
personnel who will in. turn respond to your site. The cost to
you is free!!!! 2. Notify my company and I will have a
consultant respond from Hilo, unfortunately it won't be free.
Howeve,t, rce are discreet-and this is advantageous if live
ordnance ' ~ `v
s~'"'unc~°dvered'. .
Byron L Donaldson
Vice ?resident
Mila~pn Reap: Naval $t Part of a larger area leased in 1943 LiiWalb FYing Wallikea Aragr latlpaet
bombing range starting to the U.S. Navy for U.S. Marine Corps Reap: Marine RaopK U.S. Army use,
In June 1945; target for Combat Range, used as Veining areas Corps camp and possibly as a~Jungle
rockets and bombs, for the 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions; live-fire training area training site starting
Including high target for mortars, grenades, 105mm in 1953; target for In 1944; probably a
explosives. 120 acres. and 155mm artillery, anti-tank rounds. mortars, rockets, target for only
Owned by Parker Ranch. 458 acres. Private owners. 105mm and grenades and small
155mm artillery. anus. 220 acres,
9,141 acres. including 13 acres
Owned by stele of that Is now the Hllo
Wa9coba Maaearar Area: Leased In 1943 to Hawal'l. drag sUip. Owned by
state of Hawal'!.
the U.S. Navy for training of U.S. Marines,
includes Camp Tarawa; target for naval and
other artillery, rockets, mortars, grenades,
small arms (Inluding those shown in photos
below); 91,000 acres. Various public and p
private owners.
~ l
e ''i
1~~'' F
~~~'.0 1„LY.
,~e ' .
15...:
~ ~
1.
1,.
~t
`",7~~~'le. ' yy~' ' Popok r Target
, 'j~;~~' ~ Area: U.S. Navy
` '4 range until
Ka'u Bombing November 1945;
Wsltne8 Range: Under target for air-to-
Kawaihae a y'T,`, rrsrt~!!r~~~~lr' control of the
y ground practice
, 7 Secretary of War bombs and
' ~ from 1940 to
, spotting charges.
1950 for Army use; 640 acres.
~ 39A5 , target for air-to-
. a ~ Owned by state
~ ~ ground bombs
; I of Hawaii,
i~ ~ Including napalm,
500-pound bombs, Department of
~
`~~y+` 5 k ~ ~„~~~~,r" practice bombs L n~s'an Home
Y + x~ Pllfa Pa ~ Y ~ ~ ' and rockets. 3,052
,a<~u~ x~ ~ Areas'Highways` silt ~*~~Rg~, acres. Part of
'ft`~~ a ,w~0(^k6fkNledti;Gatt:`~t Hawaii Volcanoes
k W W 1 exWoehxt Y
~f rnS94B andt~o, a National Park.
'~'~eS/f ; pl9rxar Ranch : ~
acres kipeQ o'g~~
~ ~,..:F.~ F Paklal Nul Bombing Range: Army
~ ~s ~x Zx „~i4 ,~}Yx"~~ ~1 a [iK)[tA# [0U11Q
3z£ ,,dos`, ~expbswrt In 1934 bombing range from August 1943,
';~°e~ F , itr zs + ~ Vansferred to the Navy in 1944; target
~P , ~";++t~ ~ for naval artillery including armor
A yY#Mlppflrtit~pM~'Aroa~r.rr+ piercing and highexposive shells, air-
y ~i ~ k ~ + a to~round bombs. 7,140 acres. Owned
a'~~~ °a: st ' " ' a '~Rarby by Kamehameha Schools.
~ P1UtsirufasTraatfngArealacrlvej;; _ '
Source Is U.S. Army Corps of Engineers GREG TAYLOR • The Honolulu Advertiser
~~iiitar
ordnance
creating ~ _ _ _ _
~~i hazard H~1 ~~rc_-•"11<o-, C>-l.~i~-~~-=T.~°?~^- T O
7-3p-H~ n C f'c' _=',-n`= 2=e° ^~e n-.'r.=~ o es n 3
II c ° ~ = < ~ w C' C C i 7 ' n roan p ° ^ f' _ ° 4 G O ~ C 3 ~
U Old ammunition is j ~~;s'~ ~G~~~'n~=yam m O
turning up at various I _-3 - = ~ ° ~ a3 n d ° ~ = h
o=•^~ Ens=°o nSCnn ~
spots around island •r = ~ ^ ~ - r _ ~ ~ ~ ; E ~ ~ ~ ,
ey Dave Smlth I n 3 a £ r,'e q ~ ~ a ti o=a ° = n n ° d ~ d moo' T ~ ~
Tribune•Herald ~ ~ f ~ % ~ O es, > ~ „z ^ -3 s ~ ~ n ° n ~ c n ~ _ ~ ~
°-.n 3 'wjO E~n~rm r3-~~ r £E~=.n n _.o o c.,~ n?
You'reenjoyingaJayilttherJ:b v'auu^'svr ~~^o~ >~^~°-'~:G.S^e ^>-a~m
,c ~ `e r. ~ -
island's most popular beach, doing. 5 ~ = o ^ e ~ T n w3 ~ ~ ~ ~ c o o ° ? .e ^ c ^ ~ c ~ g g ^ 3' ~'c•
a Irttle snorkclin when OU ~ na~" ~aa^~~~i9aa-°+m^=E^~-~'~~~~~oni'~ea0°in
G• Y C1 r nil.. n ~ sc=. - n~<=a3v
e11000nlCr fJUnd atlef 1'\~Und h~ `c ~ ~ n 3 n ~ a` ~ ~ ° ~ ~ a ° n s ° ? o a° ~ a rt n E n' T. ^ ~ E
unexploded mortars and artillery ~ 3 O1 = o ^ 3 ' a s F ~ ~ ' 2 ° c ~ c = ~ o " o ~.e '
sllells. an `2nn Cs ~ n~~'u~a u=^"^~=< ^=°s
n 3 Gann n~ a.nn°3n 3~'o n ^
Sound far•tetc ~ . / II idready " v n O1 ? n a?~' ~ ° ° ~G - F < 3 ° = n' o o °
~ II.oF .p~ 2.~z° ~g a-~~~.-fir=^ ° ^~.c on? 3~>-
happened too OUrISt C. 10.r th1S ^ is m ~ n ^ m ?S =.e 'n' a n'v'a r n ~ ~ = ~ _.~7 ~ ~ ^ 3 ~ a ~ .'e
year, and slat officnds say I ould _ _ _ ° = ~ ~ C
3 n
easily happen again. > ? ~ _ as ~ e. ° 7 n rt ° o ° ~ O' m ~ ~ s a' o
~3 -yyT.sn%w~?-n=t `Gn T`•'Znn.S°n E~nn
Lenny Terlep, Big Island Chll't ~ £ £ j;sy 3 ~ _ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ E 3 ' o n ~ ~ c ~ 3 e <
of lhC conservation enforcement a'n, S n ,Z ? ~ w ~ rt o n o ^ = ^ ; Q ° ~ n ^ ? n -
division of the state Department of z g 'n y -c Tae ~ f ~ ~ ~ 1~ o: 3 ~ C o n " v n o: ~ 3 O O
band and Natural Resources, Sald ~ ~ c p ^ 3 , ~ o e v ~ ^ n ^ ~ ~ ~ .j ° a ^ ~ a a
the discovery in May was not the ° ~ a n- o 3 ° ~ <<+ 6 =,a ~ = a0=° m ~I a ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ j
~ tlrSt t1mC that military ordnance' G~ ~ wa n ~ ? ~°'u ~°•T~ aw 3 3 ~ n n y r n~~ E.~ 3.^ c ~7
was found at Hapuna Beach: BUI II c u g ° c ~ T ° ~ s 6 ^ < ~ ^ . u - r 3
.,,=n n n 3.~nn ~ an-'3 ~°v°a °pn=.2^~unn~
was the biggest in recent memory, a, n ~ ^ a ~ a ' ° s v = 3 =,pv n n
he said. ~ ^ ^ a ~ n n o n m s o n 'n' ~ n , ? ~'a=a c a„a ~ ~ ~ o
After receiving the report n o, ~ ? E ro c , ~ _ n , ^ > ~ ~
DLNRdivcrssBentseveraldaysin ^Ze3.~pQ~n3nr^=c. inn-^w~ ^~~uA'•~ "0,<~3~°c~^<.
C1rIV June SUNCVIng IhC Waters oK o~^a',~•' ;a~ '1 .~n ~u o. .c ,a _e;n p; p1o `Gw O1 r^, 5~~•o r.^
Hapuna. ° ~ a s ~ z E. 8 ~ ^ ~ m u a = ° ~ y = n. < ° u r 7t ~ n ~
The tOUnd 8 lOtal qt ~I rounds uS^ A~ ~ ° ` m F ~ 3 ~ ~ o ~ ^ ~ d ~ ~ n
Y o. '0''20^',^ 30='3°- ^Ao aacA a ms=
H t' va ~ O O n Oryn S~u~=~ N
' includin ~ artillery shells, rOC1CetS a: n ^ q ~ _ ^ R 3 ~ H 3 s 01 v 'v ? n ^ ~ ~ r o
S .9 ~^0~04mO6p.O, n yej S_= rtC~~E
I and high=explosive- monars~-The ~ ~ o ~ G o' ~ o $ i.a ~ N f?~ ^ o, 3 n ' i n 3 - s s ~
II find included two intact CBSCS Ot ~U w d ° c u n !a E m o o n m n sR1 0' c ~`e > °i ~ _ °n v O
:Ind 20- millimeter anti-aircrelt = 3,o m m`O n -`0~ =d, x ~ _ ~f n v g ci? ~
~ shells. `o^' sd o ^ c mm° n = ° =w ° n d c a
Terlep said no one is sure where ^ ^ n ~ ° - r d d ii ~ s a a r o ~ ~ r n °a n
the ordnancC came from but the -
helieti is it probably fell off landing
~ crafts involved in training exercis-
es during World War II.
He said the munitions were ~
found in waters as shallow as 30
feet, with some only about 100
~ ,
- e~
r.-~
Sports ~ ~ ~ GerdeninglHome Ration
,
Waiakea beats Hilo to ~ ~ ~ Coeur A la Crt?me is John Walker lindh is
win the BIIF regular ~ v ; -one of Martha Stewart's t t indicted on 10 charges
season hoops crown and favorite treats for - ~ alleging he worked with
ell a state tourney berth - Valentine's Day the Taliban and al-Qaida
Page 13 Page 9 Page 2
Students d~ u renade
g pg
? Ordnance uncovered School officials called police, who and was carrying it over m a teacher
' ~ notified a lamb disposal team from when the teacher told him to put it ~ _
iri garden near school; U.S. Army's Pohakuloa Training Area down and walk away. J¢
which took the grenade away. - "Just leave it alone:' Ka'u said the - -
findin not uncommon
g It was not clear Tuesday if the frag- teacher told him. ~
B Dave Smith mentation grenade aas a lice piece of Another middle school student. it
y ordnance. Students u~ho found it said it Joseph Hufford, said he was walking _~:r~~-(. s Waimea Middle
Tribune-Herald - - ~ T"---~. ~ t School stu-
was misting its release handle, which by the garden when the grenade was
Students digging in a garden at when activated triggers the explosive found. When the boy who discovered it ~ ~ _ _ dents, from IeH,
Waimea Middle School Tuesday inside. picked it up and said, "Hey, a grenade," r - Joseph HuHOrd,
unearthed a hand grenade, another in Waimea Middle School student Joseph knew to gel away from the area. - Ka'u Paio and
the ton list'of World R'ar 11 military Ka'u Paio was amon .those 'who "I was scared and walked to the oth- Nestor Daquep
g g were among a
ordnance that has turned up in South touched the grenade. Ka'u, 12, said he er side (of the garden):' said Joseph. group that found
Kohala. was among a group of students digging loseph, I?, said he knew from talks ~ a grenade while
Several students handled the in the garden when another boy nearby with teachers and his parents, and also digging in a gar-
grenade before being told by a teacher discos ered the grenade. He said he Sae OFtDNANCEr den behind the
to put it down and leave it alone. t;ak the grenade from the other boy ~ page g school. \
NAwa~I -
'yniavri
1'YrnA\0 c~'~
„
5.
I
,
Mike Brandon
holds two
artillery
rounds with-
out projectile
heads he
found under-
water in Hilo
Bay. The bad-
ly corroded
shells, proba- -.~w'~~
bly of World ,.~~,7!.`'
War II vin- .~rt ~i`E*
rage, mea-
surethree
• inches in
diameter and
weigh almost
eight pounds i, I
apiece. ~
{:--.yl;
T-H photo by ~ ;~q•y~, . i
Wlll/em Ing ~ ~ I
Miiitar , +-ordnance is fond i~ Hilo gay j
? Hilo diver says he spotted `'1°ds,' he said, found.
firmtdon inl'anncd the Coast Guard about Brandon said the shells in Hilo Bay arc
'hundreds' of ammo shells hi+ lind which in turn nolilicd the U.S. Navy. lying amid rocks and coral. '
mrmber of the N;rvy's Bsplosivrs Ord- '?Slot of the rounds are actually embedded
B Dave Smith nonce Disposal Team is scheduled to amry the in coral encrustation,' he said.
Y area today. Brandon brought back nvo of the more
Trinune-Herald \ +I,,,ki•+m;m for tlu Navy said it i+ uw ear- heavily corroded shells -which measure
Once ugnin, unc~l,h~drd mihlan~~~nln,nu~r Iv In +av how the maucnvaulJ he h:uullnl. ?hnut l3 incheti long-to help nuthodties idco- I
ha. turned up in ,valor+nfl lhr laic l+IaroL "II's hard a, eav wail lhr exprns gel ~ut:uul lily what type ofordinance was involved. ~
Jiln j-larhar hot +cr what it in anJ who[ condition it is in:' Lt. Brnndon said he believed his background as a
week dixovercdahir^_r mlmhrr of ~hrll+ln- ('.nn. Rix n,wnc+:u ,c ciplirsneimm Pcvl--Navy-trainedcalvagadiver-provided hurt-witA-
tcring the bottom nl :hc hay. I larhor. enough experience to safely handle the muni-
M1Lke Rr;uulun, ownrr ~~I Ihr Rniiv;m Ihl- AVhui dnrenc ol-Pieces nl ordnance lamed tines.
vc +hap ,\yu;tl is I'crccl~Iinn+. •.ud he Ihund Ihr uP pnl oll I I:q,nna Brach Iwo yc;lr+acn N;rvv However, alter talking wish a memMrof the
nuinidnm in ahem 111 Irct of ,v:ucr mlvlr hi- Jiorn ,yore able In rxplndr +ainc of the idd Navy IiOD lc;im Wtd nerd:ry he changed hi+
anJ a Iricnd wcrr h,nAinp li it bun:unr~rialcd nnmitinn+ ahrr mavine Ihcm ell +Cn+nivc mind and said he wrnild follow the expert's
menx,rabi p;t. rrd+. 1lowever, name deemed ton dungc« nls See SHELLS,
'"there's hundrrd+uf IhcnL Pov.i hlv Ihrnr :n move wcrr detonated where they were Page 6 i