Japan Press Weekly

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2023 May 31 - June 6 [US FORCES]

Meeting held to discuss PFAS problem in and near US bases in Japan

A meeting took place on June 3 in Tokyo's Hamura City, one of the U.S. Yokota air base-hosting municipalities, to discuss PFAS contamination in areas in and around U.S. military bases in Japan.

Negiyama Yukio, a cohead of a local civil group near the U.S. Yokota AB, said, "The U.S. government, while taking PFAS countermeasures in its country, does not admit to PFAS contamination in areas around its military bases in Japan. This is a blatant double standard."

"Judging from the fact that training drills using hazardous PFAS firefighting foam were conducted in the Yokota AB as well as from evidence of groundwater contamination," Negiyama went on to say, "I conclude that the Yokota AB is a contamination source."

Shingaki Chiaki, Okinawa's Chatan Town assemblymember, said, "Several accidents occurred in which toxic firefighting foams were flown off the USMC Futenma air station, and PFAS was detected in sewerage mud near the Futenma base." She expressed her concern that PFAS contamination will spread to the soil if the mud is reused, adding, "The Japanese government should responsibly identify the source of contamination, find the cause, and clean up pollution."

Moriya Koichi, Kanagawa's Zama City assemblymember, said, "PFAS was found in the groundwater source located southeast of U.S. Army Camp Zama, and the Zama City government suspended water intake from there. Japan's Defense Ministry explains it is adequately managing the situation, but it does not intend to conduct a PFAS investigation. In order to determine the cause of the PFAS problem, it is necessary to carry out an on-site investigation at Camp Zama."

Past related articles:
> Japan-US SOFA hampers Okinawa's PFAS investigation[March 4, 2023]
> JCP Dietmembers examine PFAS contamination in Tokyo tap water [February 3, 2023]