Japan Press Weekly

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2022 September 14 - 20 [US FORCES]

Contaminated water from US Yokosuka base leaks into sea

Water contaminated with organic fluorine compounds such as PFOS and PFAS was recently found to be leaking from the U.S. Yokosuka base (Kanagawa Pref.) into the sea. Japanese Communist Party Yokosuka City assemblymember Omura Yoko at an assembly session held on September 14 took up this issue.

Samplings surveyed by the U.S. military reveal that the hazardous compounds of 112nanograms were detected from an outlet of the base. The amount far exceeds the Environment Ministry-set limit of 50ng.

JCP Omura pressed the city government to adopt necessary countermeasures.

Mayor Kamiji Katsuaki, however, responded irresponsibly. He said that as long as the U.S. side says it will do its utmost to determine the cause of the leakage, all the city can do is to wait and see.

JCP Omura demanded that the mayor push the central government and the U.S. Forces Japan to make public the details of the investigation. She also demanded that the mayor urge the central government to help conduct a thorough investigation.