I-Whidbey Island yaseWashington State isivele inezinkinga zokungatholakali kwamanzi anele. Itholakala e-Puget Sound, izakhamuzi kufanele zibhekane nehlobo elide, elomile ngaphandle kokugcwaliswa kwe-aquifer kanye nezinsongo eziqhubekayo zokungena kwamanzi anosawoti.
Kodwa manje sekumele babhekane ne-US Navy yethula amakhemikhali anobuthi emithonjeni yomphakathi neyangasese yase-Whidbey Island, ikakhulukazi endaweni eseduze kwedolobhana lase-Coupeville, lapho i-Navy igcina khona umugqa womoya osetshenziswa kakhulu ukuzijwayeza ukuthinta nokuhamba, phakathi kwezinye izivivinyo.
UCate Andrews uyilungu le Izakhamizi ze-Ebeys Reserve (COER), iqembu labantu bendawo elisebenzela ukuvikela umhlaba wabo, amakhaya kanye nempilo ekungcolisweni kwemvelo nomsindo ovela eMbuthweni Wezempi Wasemanzini wase-US. U-Andrews uthe eminye yemithombo yase-Coupeville inamakhemikhali anobuthi aphuma ezivivinyweni zegwebu lokucisha umlilo leNavy ezingeni elingamaphesenti angama-400 ngaphezu kwalokho i-Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ekubona kwamukelekile.
"Izakhamizi zinikezwa amanzi asemabhodleleni yiNavy, kodwa zaxwayiswa ukuthi zingaphuzi, zipheke noma zinisele izingadi zazo zemifino," kusho u-Andrews etshela i-Truthout. โI-Navy ithi, 'Ungakhathazeki ngokushawa,' kodwa ucwaningo luye lwabonisa ukuthi la makhemikhali asakazwa ngokumuncwa kwesikhumba. Izindlu ezibiza ngaphezu kuka-$1 million azithengeki, futhi abantu bavalelekile.โ
Amakhemikhali, i-Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) kanye ne-Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), ayizinto ze-perfluoroalkyl (PFASs), ebizwa nangokuthi ama-PFCs, futhi avela kugwebu lokucima umlilo lwe-AFFF olusetshenziswa ekuzilolongeni ukuqeqeshwa e-Navy's Outlying Landing Field (OLF) e-Coupeville nase-Ault. Inkambu ese-Oak Harbour, eyokugcina eseNaval Air Station Whidbey.
"Batholakala endaweni engaphansi kwenkundla yezindiza i-OLF ngo-Okthoba ka-2016 futhi kuyaziwa ukuthi basuka endaweni ukuze bangcolise amanzi okuphuza omphakathi nawangasese," u-Rick Abraham, osebenze ezindabeni zokungcola okunobuthi njengommeli womphakathi we-30. iminyaka, utshele i-Truthout.
NgoDisemba odlule, indaba yenza ukusakazwa kwesifunda sethelevishini.
Umthombo wase-Coupeville ongavikelekile futhi ongcolile, ohlezi eduze kwe-OLF, uhlinzeka ngamanzi ane-PFAS ezikoleni, amabhizinisi, i-Whidbey General Hospital kanye namakhulu emindeni. Kusukela ngasekupheleni kuka-2016, eminye imindeni enemithombo engcolisiwe eduze ne-OLF kuze kwadingeka ukuthi iyilahle futhi iphuze, ipheke futhi ixube amazinyo ngamanzi emabhodleleni epulasitiki, ngokusho kuka-Abraham, ophenye ukungcola kwe-PFAS emazweni amaningi, ethatha amasampula, ukuxhumana nezikhulu ezilawulayo kanye nokucwaninga imibhalo yenkampani yangaphakathi yokulimala kwezempilo okuhlobene ne-PFAS.
Kanye nokuqhubekela phambili kwe-Navy eqhubekayo kule nkinga, uMnyango Wezempilo e-Whidbey Island - ochaze iNavy ngokuthi "uzakwethu" - usebenze ngenkuthalo neNavy ekubumbeni umyalezo womnyango wezempilo mayelana nokungcoliswa komphakathi. Umnyango wezempilo uphinde wagcina imfihlo emphakathini ngohlelo lokuhlola imithombo emphakathini - ngokwesicelo seNavy - futhi ongazange futhi uvumele izakhamizi ukuthi zinikeze umbono walokho okuhloliwe nokuthi kumaphi amazinga.
Futhi lesi akusona isenzakalo esisha.
Bangu izibonelo eziningi ezweni lonke leNavy amanzi angcolisa nxazonke ezisekelweni zalo ngamakhemikhali anobuthi. Kusukela ngonyaka odlule, zikhona ngokoqobo amakhulu amadolobha ezweni lonke ukubhekana nalokhu noma izinkinga ezifanayo.
Ngaleso sikhathi, i-Naval Air Station Whidbey isanda kukhulisa ngokumangalisayo umkhumbi wayo wendiza ethi "Growler", okuyindiza eyodwa enomsindo omkhulu kunayo yonke emhlabeni, kanye nokusebenza okuhambisanayo kuzokwanda futhi.
Izakhamizi njengokuthi "Ukulimala Kwesibambiso"
Iningi lezakhamizi ezizungeze i-NAS Whidbey, i-OLF Coupeville, ezinye iziqhingi e-Puget Sound, i-Olympic Peninsula kanye nabantu baseCanada abahlala eduze kwase-Victoria e-Vancouver Island sebejwayele ukuba nomsindo wendiza obhoboza izindlebe ovela emishinini yempi ye-Navy.
Amasosha asolwandle ahlela uku qhuba ukuqeqeshwa kwempi kagesi eNhlonhlweni yama-Olympic, kanye neqiniso ababenalo bebevele bekwenza lokhu emigwaqweni emikhulu kahulumeni bengazi kubahlali, kanye nezindaba zeNavy ukuba evunyelwe ukubulala noma ukuhlukumeza imikhomo ecishe ibe yizigidi eziyi-12, amahlengethwa, ama-porpoise, amabhubesi olwandle nezinja zamanzi ngaphesheya kweNorth Pacific Ocean esikhathini esiyiminyaka emihlanu yizinto abantu bakulesi sifunda asebejwayele ukuzwa ngomakhelwane babo bemikhumbi.
Izicelo ezivela kubahlali mayelana nalezi zinkinga (kanye abanye abaningi abakhathazeke ngabo) iningi alinakwanga, noma kwesinye isikhathi izakhamizi zize zithethiswe yiNavy.
Udaba lwamakhemikhali anobuthi emanzini okuphuza asezindaweni zokuhlala, nokho, luthinte abantu ngokuqondile, futhi abaningi bacasulwa yilokho abakubona njengokucasha.
"Konke ukuhlolwa 'okusemthethweni' kwe-PFAS [izinto ze-perfluoroalkyl] okwenziwe emphakathini kwenziwe kuphela i-PFOA [Perfluoroheptanoic acid], PFOS kanye ne-PFBS [Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid]," kusho u-Abraham. "Idolobha laseCoupeville lahlolwa amanzi alo ngokuzimela, kodwa njengokuhlolwa okwenziwe yi-Navy, PFHxS [Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid] kanye ne-PFHpA [Perfluoroheptanoic acid] azinakwanga."
Uqhube wathi akukho okubhekiselwe kulawa makhemikhali okungatholakala โkumaphosta nezinto zokwakha ezimibalabala emihlanganweni yomphakathi ye-Navy's 'Open House',โ futhi azishiwongo kuwebhusayithi yolwazi ye-Navy, noma amawebhusayithi e-Island County nase-Coupeville.
"Lokho iNavy kanye nezikhulu eziningi zomphakathi ezikuchithayo njengamanani amukelekayo e-PFAS emanzini okuphuza kucatshangwa ososayensi abaningi bocwaningo njengosongo empilweni yabantu," kusho u-Abraham.
Ama-PFAS ayakha futhi ahlale emzimbeni isikhathi eside. Kuthatha iminyaka eyisishiyagalombili kuya kweyisishiyagalolunye ukukhipha ingxenye yenani le-PFHxS esivele isegazini, iminyaka emibili kuya kwemine ye-PFOA, kanye neminyaka emihlanu kuya kweyisithupha ye-PFOS. Ngokuphuza amanzi angcolile, ungaba nama-PFAS amaningi egazini lakho kunasemanzini ngenxa yomphumela we-bio-accumulative.
Ngokusho kwe-Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, ucwaningo lubonisa ukuthi ama-PFAS angakwazi, "kuthinta umbungu osakhulayo kanye nomntwana, okuhlanganisa izinguquko ezingase zibe khona ekukhuleni, ekufundeni nasekuziphatheni. Ngaphezu kwalokho, zingase zehlise inzalo futhi ziphazamise ama-hormone emvelo omzimba, zandise i-cholesterol, zithinte isimiso somzimba sokuzivikela ezifweni, futhi zandise ngisho namathuba omdlavuza.โ
"Umbutho wamasosha asemanzini sewazi iminyaka eminingi ngemithombo engcolile, futhi manje usuthatha izinyathelo ngemuva kokusatshiswa ngokuchayeka emphakathini," kusho u-Andrews.
NgoJanuwari, u-Andrews watshela i-Truthout ukuthi Amasosha Asosha Emanzini ayehlola imithombo eyi-100 e-Coupeville endaweni eyikhilomitha elilodwa le-OLF, kodwa ngaso sonke isikhathi lapho kutholwa omunye umthombo ongcolile, uMbutho Wezempi Wasolwandle wawususa elinye imayela.
"Ngikholelwa ukuthi isiqhingi sase-Whidbey singase sibe sengozini yemvelo futhi singaphinde silulame, njengoba nje sicekeleke phansi ngokwesiko ngenxa yokunganaki nokuhlukunyezwa kweNavy kwalabo abahlala lapha," kusho yena. โUbani ozokhokhela konke lokhu kuhlanzwa? Amanzi nomoya kusengcupheni, impilo yezakhamizi isengcupheni, kodwa nokho iNavy - engakwazi ukuzilolonga kalula kwenye indawo futhi iqale ukuhlanza okunzima manje - ikhethe ukungazi ngamabomu nokuzikhukhumeza. "
Kuneminye imithelela eminingi yezempilo evela kumakhemikhali iNavy eyengeze emanzini okuphuza e-Whidbey Island.
Ucwaningo, okuhlanganisa nalolo oluhlobene nokuchayeka kwezingane, luphakamisa ukuthi ama-PFAS anganciphisa ukuphendula kwamasosha omzimba emigomeni ethile futhi andise ingozi yokutheleleka. Ukwengeza, izingane ezinamazinga aphezulu egazi e-PFHxS zitholwe zinamathuba anyukile okunaka-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), kanye nezinhlanganisela ezinama-perfluorinated, njenge-PFHxS, zithinta ukusebenza kwama-hormone ocansi.
Nakuba izinga โelamukelekayoโ le-EPA le-PFOA ne-PFOS emanzini okuphuza liyizingxenye ezingama-70 ngethriliyoni ngayinye (ppt), leli zinga ligxekwe kakhulu ngokuthi alivikeli. Ngenxa yalokho, izifundazwe eziningana ziye zabeka izindinganiso ezilondoloza kakhulu.
Izinga lokuqondisa lamanzi okuphuza laseMinnesota lingu-35 ppt we-PFOA kanye no-27 we-PFOS, kanti izinga le-Vermont lokweluleka ngempilo yamanzi okuphuza le-PFOA lingama-20 ppt.
I-Vermont ayincomi ngisho nokusebenzisa amanzi ananoma yiliphi izinga le-PFOA emfuyweni yayo.
Ekugcineni lapho ivuma ukuthola amazinga amakhemikhali emithonjeni eminingana, iNavy yanikeza abantu amanzi angamabhodlela.
"Ukunikezwa kwabo ngamanzi asemabhodleleni kuyasiza uma ubheka izinombolo zamapulazi emvelo atholakala kumakhulu amahektha kulesi siqhingi athengisa izithelo nemifino yawo kwezinye zezindawo zokudlela ezaziwa kakhulu eSeattle," kusho u-Andrews.
"Ekuqaleni, satshelwa ngabasebenzi abaningi beNavy ukuthi 'thina' singumonakalo owenziwe 'empini yobushokobezi," kusho u-Andrews ngalokho amtshela khona uMbutho Wamasosha eminyakeni embalwa edlule, lapho lokho okubizwa ngokuthi impi yobushokobezi iqhuba amazwe aseMelika. inqubomgomo. "Futhi nakuba kungakholakali ekuqaleni, manje ngikholwa ukuthi lokhu kuyiqiniso."
Ukuqamba amanga ngo-Omission
U-Karen Sullivan uyisazi sezinto eziphilayo esesathatha umhlalaphansi esisengcupheni yokushabalala owasebenza e-US Fish and Wildlife Service iminyaka engaphezu kwe-15 futhi unguchwepheshe ezinqubweni zokuphatha okufanele zilandelwe yiNavy, okuhlanganisa Izitatimende Zomthelela Wezemvelo (EIS). U-Sullivan usungule iwebhusayithi I-West Coast Action Alliance, esebenza njengomlindi wemisebenzi yemikhumbi yempi e-Pacific.
"Kwesinye futhi isibonelo samaphutha kule EIS, ukungcoliswa kwamanzi okuphuza ezindaweni zokuhlala nezokuhweba eduze kwemigwaqo yezindiza ngenxa yokusetshenziswa kwamakhemikhali ayingozi akubhekwanga," kusho uSullivan etshela i-Truthout.
I-EIS yeNavy iphetha ngokuthi, โAyikho imithelela ebalulekile ehlobene nemfucuza eyingozi nezinto zokwakha ezingenzeka ngenxa yemisebenzi yokwakha noma ngenxa yokwengezwa nokusebenza kwendiza yeGrowler eyengeziwe.โ
Kodwa ngokusho kukaSullivan, lawa makhemikhali awakaze ahlaziywe futhi asetshenziswe ngokuhambisana nokuqeqeshwa nokusebenza kweGrowler iminyaka eminingi; ngakho-ke, ukuhlaziya kwabo akufanele kukhishwe.
"Njengoba izindiza e-OLF Coupeville zikhuphuka zisuka ku-3,200 ngo-2010 zafinyelela ku-35,500, akekho ongasho ukuthi ukunyuka ngamaphesenti angu-1,000 eminyakeni eyisikhombisa okungazange kwenziwe ukuhlolwa kwamanzi angaphansi komhlaba noma umhlabathi akubalulekile," kusho yena.
Ukushicilelwa kwe-Navy ye-EIS abhekisela kuyo kwakungoNovemba 10, 2016, futhi ukholelwa ukuthi i-Navy "yazazi kahle izinkinga ezingase zibe khona ngokungcoliswa kwamanzi okuphuza asendaweni yokuhlala ngenxa yalokho elikubiza ngokuthi 'umlando' wokusetshenziswa kwezinto ezicisha umlilo ekusebenzeni kwendiza. โ
NgoMeyi ka-2016, i-EPA yakhipha izeluleko zempilo yamanzi okuphuza kuma-PFC amabili, futhi iNavy yamemezela ngoJuni 2016 ukuthi iphezu kwenqubo "yokuhlonza nokususa nokucekela phansi yonke i-legacy perfluorooctane sulfonate (kanye ne-PFOA) equkethe i-AFFF [ukwakhiwa kwefilimu enamanzi. igwebu].โ
Nokho, kuqhubeke ikhasi 3-62, i-EIS yeNavy iyachitha ukukhathazeka ngesitatimende mayelana nezenzo ezenzeka cishe eminyakeni engama-20 edlule: โUkwakhiwa kokulungisa kwaqedwa ngoSepthemba 1997, ukuchayeka kwabantu kanye nokuchayeka kwamanzi angaphansi komhlaba angcolile kuyalawuleka, futhi i-OUs e-Ault Field kanye neSeaplane Base isilungele ukusetshenziswa okulindelekile (USEPA , 2016e).
"Lesi sitatimende siphelelwe yisikhathi ngendlela emangalisayo, futhi izehlakalo zakamuva ziyasiphikisa," kusho uSullivan. "Ezinsukwini ezintathu ngaphambi kokuthi kushicilelwe i-EIS, ngoNovemba 7, 2016, iNavy yathumela incwadi kubanikazi bemithombo yamanzi okuphuza abazimele nabangaphezu kwekhulu bezwakalisa ukukhathazeka ngokuthi izinto ze-perfluoroalkyl (PFAS) ezitholwe ngaphansi kwe-OLF zisabalele ngaphandle kwempahla yeNavy."
Noma kunjalo, igama elithi โperfluoroalkylโ noma โPFASโ alishiwo kanye kulo lonke i-Growler EIS enamakhasi ayi-1,600, noma i-2005 noma i-2012 Environmental Assessments.
Isikhulu Sezindaba Zomphakathi seNavy uMike Welding wazama ukuqinisekisa umphakathi ngasekupheleni kuka-2016 ingxoxo nesiteshi sikamabonakude sendawo: โI-Navy izohlinzeka labo bantu ngamanzi okuphuza aphephile kuze kube yilapho sesikwazi ukuthola indlela yokukhipha ukungcola emthonjeni wamanzi, ukuyihlunga noma into enjalo. Yinto esadinga ukulungiswa.โ
Ngeshwa, ngokusho kukaSullivan, isitatimende sohlelo lwe-โMERITโ loMnyango Wezokuvikela siyaphikisana nokuxilongwa kweNavy: โOkwamanje, abukho ubuchwepheshe be-in situ kanye nezinketho ezilinganiselwe ze-ex situ ukwelapha inhlabathi noma amanzi angaphansi angcoliswe ama-PFCs.โ
"I-EIS ihlanganisa ingxoxo yayo yokungcoliswa kwamanzi angaphansi komhlaba ekucindezelweni kwenhlabathi kanye nemiphumela yokuqiniswa okuvela ekwakhiweni okusha, futhi iphetha ngokuthi ngeke kube nemithelela emanzini angaphansi komhlaba," kusho uSullivan. โAkukho kukhulunywa ngomhlabathi ongcolile okutholakala ku-EIS. Ukuhlola okunabile kwezinhlobonhlobo zezinto eziyingozi, nokho, kufakwe ku-EIS Yokuqeqesha Nokuhlola ENyakatho-ntshonalanga, pho kungani uyishiya ngaphandle kwe-Growler EIS? Lokhu kufana nokwenqaba kukadokotela ukubheka i-EKG ekhombisa ngokusobala isifo senhliziyo, nokuxilonga isiguli ngokukhathazeka.โ
Impendulo Ejwayelekile
โIndlela yoMbutho Wasolwandle yokubhekana nale nkinga yokungcola ayihlukile kunaleyo yanoma yimuphi umngcolisi wezimboni ezinkulu ofuna ukugwema ukugxekwa, ukwehlisa umthwalo wemfanelo nokuqhubeka nebhizinisi njengokujwayelekile,โ kusho u-Abraham. "Ukubukela phansi ubucayi benkinga, ukukhipha uphenyo nokugcina umphakathi ebumnyameni yilokho abavame ukukwenza."
Utshele i-Truthout ukuthi i-Navy ayikakudalula konke ukungcola okutholakala ku-aquifer, futhi uhlaka lwabo lwe-EIS aluzange lukhulume ngodaba lokungcoliswa, ngisho nangemva kokuba i-Navy isampula imithombo futhi ithole ukungcola futhi yazisa izakhamuzi ezihlala endaweni eyikhilomitha.
I-COER iphakamisa ukuthi abantu abaseduze ne-OLF bahlole amanzi abo ngokuzimela amakhemikhali afanayo atholwe yi-Navy, nokuthi i-Navy ibuzwe ukuthi ikhokhele izivivinyo.
"Ukuhlolwa kwamanzi ethu akufanele kube yinto yesikhathi esisodwa, futhi ukuhlaziya kufanele kuhlonze ukugxila okuphansi okutholakala kulawo makhemikhali," kusho uMaryon Attwood we-COER esitatimendeni sabezindaba ngalolu daba. โSinelungelo lokwazi ukuthi yini emanzini esiwaphuzayo.โ
UBruce Saari, esinye isakhamuzi sase-Whidbey Island osenesikhathi eside ehlala iminyaka eminingi eduze nesizinda samasosha asolwandle noma i-OLF Coupeville, uphazamiseke kakhulu ngalesi sigameko.
"Lokho kwesaba kusekubonile ngicabanga ukuthi," etshela i-Truthout, ebhekisela ekungcoleni okutholwe endaweni yezindiza. โFuthi manje yiCoupeville engaphansi kwefu elifanayo. Ngahlala iminyaka engu-20 e-Whidbey e-Long Point eduze ne-OLF nase-Oak Harbour eduze nesisekelo. Nginentshisekelo yokuphila konke kule ndawo, ngasebenza emapulazini esiqiwu sase-Ebey njengomfundi, futhi nginomuzwa wokulahlwa okuzayo mayelana nalezi zinguquko.โ
Izixazululo?
Okufunwa ngu-COER, u-Abraham kanye nezinye izakhamizi zase-Whidbey Island ezithintwe yile nhlekelele kumane nje kuhlanzekile futhi kuphephile amanzi okuphuza, kanye nokuthi Umbutho Wamasosha Asolwandle uziphendulele ngale nkinga ewudalile.
U-Abraham ukholelwa ukuthi uMbutho Wamasosha Amanzi kufanele ngokushesha ufake izinhlelo zokuhlunga ezifanele emithonjeni yangasese neyomphakathi engcolisiwe noma esengozini, ehlanganisa yonke imithombo yase-Coupeville kanye nendawo yokuhlanza amanzi. Uphinde acabange ukuthi kunengqondo ukuthi i-Navy ihlinzeke ngeminye imithombo yamanzi ahlanzekile kuzo zonke izinhlangano ezibone amanzi azo engcolile.
โBaningi kakhulu abantu asebephila ngokuthenga amanzi amponjwana isikhathi eside bengaboni lutho,โ usho kanje.
NgoMashi 4, iNavy yahlola imithombo yokuqapha engama-27 eyayiyifakile e-OLF Coupeville, lapho yathola khona amazinga aphezulu okungcola endaweni engaphansi komhlaba kweminye yemithombo. I-PFOA itholwe ifika ku-1,190 ppt, PFOS yafika ku-54.7, kanye ne-PFBS yafika ku-473 ppt. โUhleloโ lweNavy lokuhlola le mithombo yokuqapha aluzange luhlanganise ukuhlolwa kwe-PFHxS noma i-PFHpA, nakuba bobabili kwakwaziwa ukuthi basemanzini futhi.
U-Andrews, u-COER kanye no-Abraham bonke bafuna uMbutho Wamasosha Asolwandle ukuthi ahlole futhi aqaphe yonke imithombo yomphakathi neyangasese eyaziwa ngokuthi ingcolile noma โisengozini.โ
Baphinde bacele ukuthi i-PFHxS, i-PFHpA kanye ne-PFNA [Perfluorononanoic acid] yengezwe ohlwini lwamakhemikhali aqashwe emithonjeni yokuqapha esendaweni ye-OLF; ukuze wonke amanzi okuphuza omphakathi nawangasese endaweni ahlolwe futhi aqashwe kuwo wonke ama-PFAS ayisithupha atholakala e-OLF; ukuze kumiswe ukufuduka kwamanzi angcolile; kanye nokuthi ama-PFAS asuswe endaweni engaphansi komhlaba, njengoba ubuchwepheshe sebuvele bukhona bokwenza lokho.
Kodwa lena imiyalo emide uma ibhekwa eqinisweni lokuthi ngisho nokuthola i-Navy ukuthi ivume ngezinga kanye nobukhulu benkinga kuseyisinyathelo sokuqala.
UDahr Jamail, intatheli yezisebenzi ze-Truthout, ungumbhali we Intshisekelo Yokumelana: Amasosha Angenqaba Ukulwa E-Iraq nase-Afghanistan (Haymarket Books, 2009), kanye Ngale Kwendawo Ehlaza: Ukukhishwa Okuvela Kuntatheli Engahlanganisiwe e-Iraq Ehlalwe (Izincwadi zeHaymarket, 2007). U-Jamail ubike ese-Iraq isikhathi esingaphezu konyaka, kanye naseLebanon, Syria, Jordan naseTurkey kule minyaka eyi-10 edlule, futhi usezuze indondo ye-Martha Gellhorn for Investigative Journalism, phakathi kweminye imiklomelo.
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