space Press Releases, News Stories

Basel Action Network and Coalition Press Release

Longshoremen and environmentalists are angry that the first shipment started to move despite assurances from EPA Region X Administrator Chuck Clarke made in June, that no export would take place until a full agency review was concluded, consultations with the activists had taken place, and a public input process was completed. However on Tuesday, the Basel Action Network (BAN) an international network of activists against waste trade, and the Washington Toxics Coalition, both based in Seattle, heard from a Taiwanese journalist that the barrels were due to leave for Tacoma on board vessel "Astoria Bridge" Thursday, July 22. When queried, Mike Bussell, EPA's regional director of waste and chemicals, admitted that EPA was informed by Envirosafe of the shipment of contaminated barrels on July 16 but his agency did nothing until called by the environmentalists.

"EPA basically misled us, we called them and told them we were very alarmed and disappointed, and asked them to halt the shipment at once." said Jim Puckett of BAN.

Bussell later told the activists that he did leave a voice mail message with Envirosafe the night of the 20th asking them to halt the shipment. Apparently however the plea was ignored.

"We took no chances, and called the Longshoremen for help." said Puckett. "They were able to halt this dangerous, misguided shipment where the federal government lacked either the will or the authority to do so."

After the phone call, Tacoma Longshoreman Business Agent Scott Mason got busy and called stevedore company Husky Terminal. They in turn called K-Lines shipping company that owned "Astoria Bridge." K-Lines in turn expressed dismay that their local agent Yang Ming Lines Ltd. had not informed them of the nature of this cargo. They told the Yang Ming Lines to off-load the material at once. According to sources at the Taipei Times, the 10 containers were then off loaded just before the ship was to sail and placed back on wharf #63 in Kaohsiung Harbor. The "Astoria Bridge" sailed today without the controversial cargo.

"While we handle toxic products often, we do not believe that a free trade in toxic waste should exist," said Longshoreman Scott Mason. "The transport of this waste is a needless risk that has already resulted in the death of one dockworker. The global community has stated clearly that the solution for toxic waste does not lie in exporting the problem but in eliminating the problem at source. We are happy to do our part in pressing for this rational policy in all quarters," he said.

EPA's Mike Bussell justified the shipment by claiming that it was not "toxic waste" but rather "solid waste." Environmentalists however hotly disputed this assertion, claiming that such a determination was the purpose of the special agency task force which had yet to complete its findings.

"It makes no sense that a Taiwanese company would go to great lengths and expense to dispose of these barrels in a US hazardous waste landfill if they weren't contaminated with harmful chemicals," said Laurie Valeriano of the Washington Toxics Coalition.

The crushed barrels have never been sampled or analyzed. Yet they were known to be uncleaned, used barrels that could have contained pesticides or toxic solvents. The used barrels were then filled with the toxic waste which is known to contain mercury and PCBs (poly-chlorinated biphenyls). PCB imports in any amount are forbidden by US law.

"Thanks to the help of the unions in Tacoma we have won round one in the fight to rationalize the US toxic waste import policy, said Scott Brown of the Idaho Conservation League. "But we have no illusions that this is not over. Idaho has no intention of becoming the dumping ground for the Pacific Rim."

For more information contact:

Mr. Scott Mason, Longshoremen, Tacoma, Business Agent: 253-383-2468

Mr. Jim Puckett, Basel Action Network (BAN), 206-720-6426

Ms. Laurie Valeriano, Washington Toxics Coalition, 206-632-1545 ext. 14