U.S. Military Rejects Okinawa Access Requests over PFAS Findings

Tokyo, Dec. 19 (Jiji Press)–The U.S. military has rejected Okinawa’s requests to conduct on-site inspections at U.S. bases in the southernmost Japan prefecture, after per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, were detected around the facilities, the Japanese Defense Ministry said Friday. The refusal was based on the absence of clear data showing the U.S. military facilities as the source of contamination and on shortcomings in the prefecture’s sampling plans, the ministry said. It added that it had briefed the prefectural government on the U.S. response the same day. The facilities covered by the requests were the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Station in the city of Ginowan and Camp Hansen in areas including the town of Kin. The U.S. Air Force’s Kadena Air Base, in areas including the town of Kadena, was also included. PFAS have been found in nearby rivers and other sites, raising concerns about potential effects on drinking water. As a result, Okinawa has sought permission to enter the facilities four times since 2016. According to the Defense Ministry, U.S. authorities issued a single consolidated response to the requests. The reply says that inspections could be considered only if there were agreed environmental standards enabling both sides to properly assess sampling results and clear scientific evidence identifying U.S. facilities as the pollution source. The prefecture’s applications did not meet these conditions, the U.S. side said, citing issues such as the lack of precise identification of water- and soil-sampling locations. At the same time, U.S. forces in Japan acknowledged that the primary concern about PFAS contamination is its impact on drinking water and said access could be considered if the purpose was to confirm water safety and conditions were met. The Defense Ministry did not disclose the date of the U.S. response. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]