The city’s on-post soil analysis of Yongsan Garrison did not show contamination above safe levels. This may be an indication that the off-post soil contamination may not be from the base as claimed. However, the results are not going to matter to South Korean leftists who have been using this issue to create tension in the US-ROK alliance:
Yongsan Garrison in Seoul.
The result of Seoul City’s probe into soil and groundwater in areas near a US military base in central Seoul over alleged oil leaks came out Tuesday, showing below average levels of contamination in the samples from six of nine sites around the military base in Yongsan.
In August, the Seoul city government conducted its own survey on soil and water near the US base for possible contamination with toxic chemicals, amid growing calls for the disclosure of pollution levels in the area.
According to the analysis of samples released Tuesday, all six areas had soil and water contamination below average levels, based on the Soil Environment Conservation Act here.
However, two spots, the main post and the transportation office, will be reinvestigated next month, the city said, as samples from there were close to the average level.
Officials said that levels of total petroleum hydrocarbon detected from these sites were close to exceeding the standard level of 500 milligrams per kilogram. The detected amount was 471 milligrams per kilogram.
“Although there were no significant traces of contamination found from the probe this time, we are still concerned about areas where contamination levels were close to the standard, while the source of the pollutants near the US military base remains unknown,” said Kwon Ki-wook, chief of the city’s water circulation safety bureau. [Korea Herald via reader tip]
So the main office, and the transport office, both places where vehicles constantly come and go, have almost – almost – average levels of hydrocarbon residue. Gosh, what a surprise.
Smokes at Work
7 years ago
Anyone else notice that GI wrote under the photo:
“Yongsan Garrison is Seoul.”
😛
JoeC
7 years ago
The article indicates that while significant levels of contaminants haven’t been found on the post they have been found in areas near the post.
Yongsan has been a hub of activity since at least after the Korean war and likely for some time before it. Even if USFK had been diligent in the handling of POL waste for most of that time they likely had to hire local national services to pick up and dispose of it. Korea didn’t always have first world standards in the oversight of such things so it’s very possible there could have been illegal dumping by those contractors shortly after they left the post.
Flyingsword
7 years ago
Leftist can’t deal with the truth.
Flyingsword
7 years ago
Joe C. Not to mention all those car fix it garages outside the base that all seem very well regulated and able to dispose of automotive waste fluids. And dry cleaners, I am sure equally well equipped to properly handle their waste.
Smokes at Work
7 years ago
“Pour the formaldehyde down the drain Mr. Kim…”
“But Mr. McFarland! This drain leads to the precious Han; lifeblood of the pure Chosun!”
So the main office, and the transport office, both places where vehicles constantly come and go, have almost – almost – average levels of hydrocarbon residue. Gosh, what a surprise.
Anyone else notice that GI wrote under the photo:
“Yongsan Garrison is Seoul.”
😛
The article indicates that while significant levels of contaminants haven’t been found on the post they have been found in areas near the post.
Yongsan has been a hub of activity since at least after the Korean war and likely for some time before it. Even if USFK had been diligent in the handling of POL waste for most of that time they likely had to hire local national services to pick up and dispose of it. Korea didn’t always have first world standards in the oversight of such things so it’s very possible there could have been illegal dumping by those contractors shortly after they left the post.
Leftist can’t deal with the truth.
Joe C. Not to mention all those car fix it garages outside the base that all seem very well regulated and able to dispose of automotive waste fluids. And dry cleaners, I am sure equally well equipped to properly handle their waste.
“Pour the formaldehyde down the drain Mr. Kim…”
“But Mr. McFarland! This drain leads to the precious Han; lifeblood of the pure Chosun!”
“I know, muha ha ahaha ah aaaha aaa….”
@Smokes, I fixed the typo. That was kind of funny. 😳