"(USEPA) Administrator Pruitt has given us his assurance of assistance as Guam EPA moves forward with testing not only for Agent Orange, but for any dioxins that could negatively impact the health of our veterans and our people." – Gov. Eddie Calvo
U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt said the
agency would help Guam with testing for the Vietnam War-era herbicide
Agent Orange in Guam, the governor’s office announced yesterday.
Gov.
Eddie Calvo met with Pruitt yesterday and they discussed the situation
in which several military veterans have come forward about the use of
Agent Orange in Guam, according to the governor’s office.
"Administrator
Pruitt has given us his assurance of assistance as Guam EPA moves
forward with testing not only for Agent Orange, but for any dioxins that
could negatively impact the health of our veterans and our people," the
governor stated.
GEPA has sought out price
quotes from several environmental companies that can test for Agent
Orange and other chlorinated pesticides. The agency also is coordinating
with the Department of Defense to test areas on military bases that may
have been affected.
Karnig Ohannessian, deputy
assistant secretary of the Navy for the environment, has also expressed
interest in discussing Agent Orange’s impact, according to the
governor’s office.
"We look forward to
partnering with the USEPA to ensure that our people’s health and
island’s environment are protected," GEPA Administrator Walter Leon
Guerrero said.
"I advised Administrator Pruitt
that regulations like these will put quite a burden on our people, with
our small population of 165,000 having to foot the bill," the governor
said in a press release. "Our island is committed to keeping our water
and air clean, but I’d like to work with him to move in a direction that
the people of Guam can afford."
