Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 20, Number 6, 1 June 2003 — LEKA Kālele [ARTICLE]

LEKA Kālele

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Makua Valley: new law gives military free rein to pollute, desecrate

Mālama 'āina feels great when we make a difference in the care of our land. We fought for an environmental impact statement so we could assess the environmental and cultural health of Mākua. But, used by the military since the 1920s, live fire training causes 'eha in Mākua and in us. In 1964, after statehood, the federal government had five years to formalize leases for lands used like Mākua. By sale, condemnation and presidential orders, the feds acquired all kuleana lands of Mākua. One of the lease provisions, burying waste is disposed and OK. In August 2029 the military's 65 year-lease ends, but no elean up is required. What is a valley worth after 100 years of bombing, training and Hazardous waste disposal? The federal government paid $1 for the lease, just 1 penny per year of use, and they don't have to elean it up. Just think, the first lead bullet, the first unexploded bomb, the chemicals that cause cancer or change us genetically and all that eame after is still in Mākua.

These toxic substances have been leaching into our soil, absorbed into the plants, fish, limu, air, water and oeean. After 9-11, the world has changed. Our settlement with the Army affords an EIS, cultural access twice a month onto the range to visit cultural sites. Technical assistance affords the community access to experts to do scientific peer review of the EIS process and findings. Our goal is gather solid information from a solid study. Everyone's participation is important and needed. Just recently, Congress passed legislation exempting Department of Defense projects from environmental and health laws in the name of homeland security. This new law could legalize their toxic pollution and activity with little or no legal recourse. The new law claims that the military can't effectively prepare for war so long as it is hamstrung by provisions of laws that protect endangered species, our air, water — or to elean up their 'ōpala. Om community and state will have to deal with the

health and environmental consequences. Since the first bullet fired into Mākua over 60 years ago, our community carried the burden for training and troop readiness. We have endured every war since and will continue to be exposed to military training and toxic blend long after Saddam and al-Qaeda fades from our memory. Who will elean up the mess at Mākua, Barbers Point, Lualualei, Schofield, Pearl Harbor, Pōhakuloa, and every military site in Hawai'i? The military spends billions of dollars on developing ways to kill, but only pennies on technology to elean up their 'ōpala. They refuse to comply with this law like every other federal agency and every other citizen. The new law threatens to make efforts like ours go away. Until that day, Mālama Mākua will continue to struggle for justice and the elean up of Mākua. Call 696-4677 for access info. We want a safe and healthy environment for our future generations. Sparky Rodrigues Wai'anae