US Army Corps of Engineers Fact Finding Is Welcomed

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The fact finding visit by officials of the US Army Corps of engineers of Aua village last week is a good sign says Chief Engineer Waste Water Division of the American Samoa Power Authority, Jason Jaskowiak.

The Corps sent two representatives to the territory last week to check out the Aua site where US Marines had a fuel depot.

ASPA feels the US Army Corps should pay  extra costs incurred for any projects for Aua caused by contamination of soil through leakage of pipes from the marine fuel depot.

However the Corps had declined saying it was advised that there was no evidence of such contamination.

Following a meeting between Congresswoman Aumua Amata and the Commander of the US Army Corps in Honolulu, the commander sent two engineers for a fact finding mission.

Jaskowiak who met with the officials said its good news they are re looking at ASPA’s request.

He said he gathers from their discussion that the Army Corps is focused on the risk to human health and not so much on the financial burden.

The chief engineer said they are contacting the Department of Health to help provide statistics and other information on health impacts to residents of Aua.

ASPA is also gathering information from staff who work on the Aua sewer line project and their family members.

The local Environmental Protection Agency is also helping document any environmental impacts.

Jaskowiak acknowledges its going to be hard to convince the US Army Corps of the added financial burden resulting from soil contamination due to fuel seepage from the US Marine fuel tanks.

But he says the fact that the Corps sent a team down to investigate is a good sign.

Mr. Derrick Chow, the Chief of Civil and Public Programs for the Corps of Engineers told KHJ News, they collected more information that would help Commander L,t Colonel James Hoyman make a decision on the funding issue.

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