By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking access to private properties in Yigo, covering an area previously used as a bomb disposal site, in preparation for the cleanup of potential contamination that might have lingered after World War II.
The cleanup site marked "Area 101" covers more than 600 parcels of land in Lupog, which were identified as "formerly used defense sites" or FUDS.
The area consists of approximately 842 acres, located immediately south of Andersen Air Force Base.
“Area 101 was designated for use as a U.S. Army Garrison Forces bomb disposal site from April 1945 to September 1946,” the USACE said.
EA Engineering has been contracted by the USACE to complete the "military munitions response program remedial investigation" at Area 101.
"The goal of the project is to define the nature and extent of potential (munition and explosives of concern) at the site to identify associated risks to current landowners and ecological receptors," AE stated on its website. "Project stakeholders include the Government of Guam and private residents, the USACE Huntsville Center and Honolulu District, and Guam EPA."
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EA said the project required public meetings to solicit rights of entry from property owners and the government of Guam.
"Fieldwork will consist of a series of transect- and grid-based data collection efforts in residential areas, steep terrain and dense vegetation," the contractor said.
"Data collected will include ecological, cultural, digital geophysics, analog geophysics, advanced classification geophysics, and MC media sampling in shallow soil at the site.," EA said.
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USACE said it began inspecting Area 101 in August 2019 as a part of the FUDS program and has since conducted field investigations that included surface and subsurface removal of munitions and debris within areas that posed a risk to the public.
“To perform the remedial investigation, the corps must complete work in the field. This fieldwork will require the corps to access property of landowners within the project area," the USACE said.
“We look forward to collaborating with our Guam partner agencies to begin the first steps of the CERCLA process for Area 101,” said Lt. Col. Ryan Pevey, USACE, Honolulu District commander. “We will continue to engage with the community to expand public understanding about our work and the remediation process throughout this mission."
A right of way form grants USACE and government contractors' access to a resident’s property to determine whether there are military munitions present.
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The USACE Honolulu District will host an informational forum next week to answer questions about the right-of-entry form needed to support the remediation of Area 101.
The USACE said it has notified all landowners in Area 101 by phone or postal mail of the ROE request.
The USACE information booth will be at the St. Lourdes Church Social Hall at 135 Chalan Pale Raman, Lagu, Yigo.
The dates and times are:
Sept. 6 3 – 6 p.m.
Sept. 7 4 – 7 p.m.
Sept. 8 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
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