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Guam Environmental Protection Agency News

07 Mar 2014

Hazmat Transported from Shipwreck for Proper Disposal

Daiki Maru 7 (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Matt Knight)

By Jesse Leon Guerrero, U.S. The U.S. Navy, in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard and civilian contractors, safely removed 49 55-gallon drums filled with hazardous materials from the grounded Japanese commercial fishing vessel Daiki Maru 7 at the Spanish Steps on Naval Base Guam (NBG) March 6. The Navy-led unified command consisting of representatives from the base, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam, Guam Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the responsible party have worked together daily to secure the site and coordinate removal of the hazardous waste since the vessel ran aground Feb. 13.

19 Feb 2014

Fuel Removed from Grounded Fishing Vessel

U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Matt Knight

The U.S. Navy, in partnership with other federal and local agencies, removed approximately 540 gallons of the remaining diesel fuel from the grounded Japanese commercial fishing vessel Daiki Maru 7 in outer Apra Harbor Feb. 18. On Feb. 16, about 50 gallons of fuel was removed and an additional 540 gallons was removed Feb. 18. The diesel fuel was pumped into containers on shore and then staged in an environmentally safe containment zone for disposal. Additionally, four marine batteries and several fishing nets were safely removed.

18 Feb 2014

Grounded Fishing Vessel's Impact Assessed

The Japanese commercial fishing vessel Daiki Maru can be seen from Orote Point on U.S. Naval Base Guam. Sailors from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 conducted a search-and-rescue operation and rescued 10 fishermen from the sinking vessel that ran aground near Spanish Steps Feb. 13. The fishermen were transported to U.S. Naval Hospital Guam for evaluation and later released. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Matt Knight/Released)

The U.S. Navy, in partnership with other federal and local agencies, has deployed teams to assess and respond to potential environmental impacts due to the grounding of the Japanese commercial fishing vessel Daiki Maru in outer Apra Harbor Feb. 13. Navy officials are taking all the necessary steps to address the situation and ensure the protection of the environment. "It's our number one priority on the Navy base along with all the agencies we are partnering with," said Capt. Mike Ward, commanding officer of U.S. Naval Base Guam.

17 Feb 2014

Navy Rescue Fishing Vessel Crew, Prevent Guam Wreck Pollution

Wreck of Daiki Maru 7: Photo courtesy of USN

Sailors from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 conducted a search and rescue operation and rescued 10 fishermen from a sinking commercial fishing vessel that ran aground in Apra Harbor near Spanish Steps, Guam. Subsequently Navy personnel removed environmentally hazardous materials from the wreck. "Through the efforts of HSC-25 and the U.S. Coast Guard, we were able to successfully meet our first priority, which was to rescue the crew members," said Capt. Mike Ward, commanding officer of Naval Base Guam. The U.S.

05 Jan 2011

Recovery Plan for Sunken Drydock in Guam

Guam Shipyard has finalized plans to recover the floating dry dock Machinist, or Big Blue, which took on water and became partially submerged Jan. 3. The Coast Guard has established a unified command with Guam Environmental Protection Agency and Guam Shipyard to manage the recovery process. Coast Guard Sector Guam reviewed the shipyard’s plans, which outline the shipyard’s commitment to work with oil recovery contractor Gresco under the supervision of the Coast Guard and Guam EPA, to prevent pollution spills during salvage operations associated with the recovery. “The primary concerns at this point are the safety of responders and mitigating the pollution threat,” said Capt. Thomas M. Sparks, commander of Sector Guam.

26 Feb 2008

Coast Guard on Alert for Toxic Ship

The U.S. Coast Guard and the Guam Environmental Protection Agency are on alert for the possible arrival of the contaminated cruise liner, SS Independence, which is reportedly heading to Guam after being refused entry in Hawaii, The Variety reported. SS Independence, which is believed to be loaded with toxic polychlorinated biphenyls or PCB and lung-damaging asbestos, is being pulled by the tug ship Pacific Hickory, on the way to India, where the 57-year-old cruises liner will be scrapped. With the disabled vessel in tow, Pacific Hickory reportedly attempted to stop in Hawaii to refuel but both ships were turned away by Hawaii EPA and the Coast Guard because of the health risk posed by PCB and asbestos contamination.

05 Dec 2007

Coast Guard Hopes to Move Barge

The extent of the damage, if any, to the coral reef in Hagatna Bay by a barge that ran aground was not known. The barge, the Tamara 5, associated with the U.S.-flagged tug boat June T was working on sewage system repair at the Hagatna Wastewater Treatment Plant when it ran aground. According to U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Marcus Hirschberg, the primary concern of all the agencies involved is the safety of salvage personnel and minimizing the impact on the environment. There were no injuries among those on board the vessel; however, four individuals went into the water around the barge. Those individuals safely made it back to the grounded vessel. The owner of the vessel is working closely with agencies including the U.S.