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An environmentalist indicated an oily layer floating in a pond near a U.S. Army base in Paju, Gyeonggi province, on June 6.
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Asbestos, other toxins feared on bases to be returned to Korea
South Korea and the U.S. are currently discussing how best to deal with environmental pollution found on U.S. military bases to be returned to Korea, but Seoul will not confirm whether the long-disputed problem of waste removal and storage is on the agenda. The bases, including the large Yongsan garrison in Seoul, are to be returned to the South Korean government by 2008 as a result of a large-scale reshuffle and downsize of U.S. forces here. A large sum will be required to safely dispose of the asbestos used in building the bases alone, according to the regulations set forth by both parties. Observers fear that South Korea stands to bear an enormous cost if the two sides do not clarify how they will resolve the problem. The two countries will start discussion on the environmental cleanup issue at the 9th Security Policy Initiative (SPI) meeting slated for mid-July in Seoul.According to the Ministry of Environment and environmental organizations, U.S. Forces Korea has conducted investigations related to the prevention of asbestos pollution. However, they have so far not taken measures based on this research. The danger of asbestos pollution was not mentioned in a report by the Ministry of Environment on the cleanup of the U.S. military bases to be turned over to Korea. Additionally, under the terms of the Korea-U.S. agreement, a current investigation is being conducted on pollution at U.S. bases to be returned to Korea, but the problem of waste removal and storage has not been included. The ministry refuses to confirm whether the current South Korea-U.S. negotiations are covering the matter. Environmental groups urged the government to raise the issue of waste cleanup during the negotiations, saying, "It is highly possible that the U.S. military bases may have illegally buried waste because they have always prohibited outsiders from entering." The environmental groups have used as evidence examples of pollution by the American military at other bases in Korea, such as Camp Long in Wonju and Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek. Yun Gi-don, an official of Green Korea United, a nongovernmental environmental organization, said, "The government should strongly raise the issue of asbestos and other dangerous wastes which may be found in the U.S. bases after they are returned to Korea."
