Radiation Leak On Guam-Based Submarine Causes Concern
(Saipan Tribune, Pacific Daily News)
A U.S. Navy nuclear submarine that is home-ported in Guam and had visited Saipan for four days in December last year has been found leaking trace amounts of radioactivity for months as it traveled around the Pacific, the Saipan Tribune and Pacific Daily News report.
The leaking radioactivity was found when the USS Houston was undergoing routine maintenance in Hawaii last month, according to an Associated Press report. Officials told AP the amount was “negligible” and “an extremely low level.”
While it was docked in Guam, Hawaii and Japan, less than half of a microcurie (0.0000005 curies), was leaked, officials said. The amount is less than what is found in a 50-pound bag of lawn and garden fertilizer, officials told AP.
Guam Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo released a statement Saturday, saying officials from the Naval Reactors Office in Washington, D.C., contacted her Friday about the leak.
“I was informed that the leakage may have gone undetected for over a five-month period and that the leak was discovered during a scheduled overhaul,” she said. “I have been informed that the amount of leakage was at a negligible level, but I remain concerned about this news. I have asked for officials to brief me about this matter in greater detail as soon as possible.”
She said she wanted all the facts provided “so that we can ensure that there has been no harm to the residents of Guam, danger to the crew, or damage to the environment.”
The leak was discovered July 17 when the Los-Angeles class fast track sub was docked in Hawaii. A buildup of leaking water popped a valve, pouring water onto a sailor's leg, a CNN report said. Water from a valve was slowly dripping from the submarine's nuclear power plant, although the water did not make contact with the nuclear reactor. The sailor tested negative for radiation.
Angelo Villagomez, a community member active in environmental organizations in the CNMI, said he expects more cases like this will arise with the U.S. military buildup in Guam and the CNMI.
“I hope the military in CNMI mitigate those problems and future problems,” he said.
But, Villagomez said, he does not want the incident to stop other ships from docking here.
“The (CNMI) wants those ships to come here because they offer great economic benefits,” he said.
Meanwhile, on Guam Gov. Felix P. Camacho yesterday held a press conference to address reports of a valve leak aboard the USS Houston. Camacho said due to the submarine's remote location while ported on Guam, public access beaches and fishing areas are unlikely to be affected.
But Robert Celestial, president of the Pacific Association of Radiation Survivors, wants local and government officials to take the leak seriously. "This is a very serious issue," Celestial said. "We need to take it seriously. ... It's up to our leaders to do something about it."
Lt. Cmdr. Dave Benham, spokesman for U.S. Navy Commander, Submarine Forces Pacific, said an investigation is under way.
"At no time was there a risk to the (Houston's) reactor plant, the safety of the crew or the safety of the public," Benham said.
http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?newsID=82209&cat=1
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