There’s disappointment at the American Samoa Power Authority that the Defense Department isn’t providing any funding for the Aua fuel pipeline project.
A November 9 letter from the Environmental Program Branch of the US Army Corps of Engineers at Fort Shafter, Honolulu said that in discussion with their attorneys, they have been advised to close the project since there is no risk to human health.
As a result, the Corps of Engineers will not be taking any further action and will be closing the project.
As background, the US Navy left behind contamination in the form of fuel oil, polluting the soil and groundwater throughout the village of Aua and along the coast all the way to the canneries.
ASPA engineers affiliated with the Aua project have been trying to hold the US Army Corps responsible for cleaning what they left behind.
According to ASPA Engineer Jason Jaskowiak this contamination will cost ASPA and the American Samoa Government millions of dollars over the years to come and it will put villagers in direct contact with contamination if they construct in Aua.
He says anytime a person or agency digs into the ground in those areas the contamination will have to be dealt with, this will pose high costs for sewer lines, water lines and all other underground utilities.
He adds American Samoa is a great contributor to the US Armed Forces and “it is a disgrace that they are abandoning the people with this contamination.”
