[CPEO-MEF] MUNITIONS. HEALTH: Vieques (PR) opposes proposed burn

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Press Release
May 27, 2009
Movimiento de Afirmación Viequense


Vieques Municipal Legislature Rejects Proposed Navy Burning of 200 Acres 
of Vegetation in ex-Bombing Area


At its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 26, in a motion submitted by the 
Legislator for the Vieques Affirmation Movement (MAVI) and amended by 
the vice president of the municipal legislature, Gilda Pimentel Porfil, 
that body reaffirmed its rejection of the open burning the US Navy 
insists it will carry out on Vieques as part of the process to find 
unexploded ordnance.

The original motion only asked the Federal Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) not to support the decision by the Puerto Rico 
Environmental Quality Board of 14 May that endorsed the Navy's petition 
to burn 200 acres of vegetation in the ex bombing range here.

The Vieques Municipal Legislature to contact the US Congressmen who have 
asked for an investigation of the federal Agency for Toxic Substances 
and Disease Registry's (ATSDR) work on Vieques. (ATSDR carried out 
several studies on Vieques between 2000 and 2002 related to military 
contamination and health problems here and found no relationship) 
Vieques legislators also agreed to communicate to the White House the 
need for intervention in this case.

Regional press of Eastern Puerto Rico have give much attention to this 
issue recently and reflects the growing concerns for this threat to the 
health of the Viequense population.  Opposition to the burning has 
allowed a renewed effort at unifying diverse groups and individuals to 
rally support in defense of Vieques' health.



--


Lenny Siegel
Executive Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
a project of the Pacific Studies Center
278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org



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