AT least 440 pieces of unexploded World War II ordnance collected on Tinian will be detonated by the U.S. Navy Explosives and Ordnance Disposal Team from Guam on Friday and Saturday.
In an interview, the deputy director of the Emergency Management Office, Mark S. Pangelinan, said the munitions that will be detonated include hand grenades, 500-lb. bombs, mortars, projectiles and fuses.
The detonation will take place at Tinian’s Pina Quarry Pit from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on May 3 and 4.
“Due to the danger imposed by this activity, the general public, especially tour operators, commercial pilots and fishermen are advised to stay at least 1.5 miles away from this area during the time and date indicated,” EMO said in an advisory.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency earlier issued an emergency 90-day permit for the detonation or open burning of unexploded World War II munitions in the CNMI.
“Since EPA has determined that the unexploded ordnance present an imminent and substantial endangerment to human health and the environment, the emergency permit was issued to allow the waste to be safely destroyed in a timely manner by the U.S. Navy,” EPA said in a media release.
A detonation on Saipan is also set in late May or June at a disposal range in Marpi, one mile north of the construction site of the new Marpi landfill.
The operating conditions of the permit limit activities to daylight hours, one open burn per day, with wind speeds equal or less than 15 miles per hour, EPA said.
The emergency permit prohibits detonation if electrical storms are within 3 miles of the disposal range or if major storms capable of flooding the disposal range are forecast to occur within 24 hours, EPA said.
