THE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold a public information meeting Wednesday, Sept. 1, regarding the Talofofo hospital dump site.
In the meeting, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will present to the public the proposed plan to facilitate public involvement in the decision-making process for the hospital dump site.
Barring bad weather, the meeting will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. today in the CNMI Legislature parking lot.
If the weather is uncooperative, the meeting will move into the House chamber.
According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, this meeting will provide an overview of the results of the investigation into the hospital dump, which was a Formerly Used Defense, or FUDS, site.
Based on the results of the investigations, the federal government has reviewed the data with federal, state, and local agencies, and selected the proposed “No Action” decision.
This decision is based on the conclusions that the metals found in the site soils do not pose unacceptable risks to human health or the environment.
Additionally, the Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon, or TPH, concentrations in soil above applicable screening levels were successfully removed from the Hospital Dump FUDS site.
If after consideration of public comments, this proposed “No Action” decision is ultimately selected, no further additional investigation, remediation, or removal will be performed, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will pursue project closeout.
To ensure that the community’s concerns are addressed, the public comment period has been extended from July 20, 2021 to Sept. 30, 2021.
The proposed plan and remedial investigation report are available for public review in the administrative record file at the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library.
During this time, the public is encouraged to submit any written comments regarding the project to:
Lori Wong (PM-HDS)
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Honolulu District
Programs and Project Management Division, Environmental Branch
Building 230/CEPOH-PP-E
Fort Shafter, HI 96858-5440
Fax 808-835-4129
E-mail: FUDS-POH@usace.army.mil
The chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources, Rep. Sheila J. Babauta, on Tuesday said the panel is fully supportive of this meeting and encourages the community’s attendance and participation.
