Photo/Illutration Alarming levels of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and other substances are detected in spring water in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture. Photo taken on March 25, 2021 (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

NAHA--Okinawa prefectural officials will commission a boring survey near U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, over a suspected carcinogen found in rivers near the base. 

The survey, to be done around April, will check the alarming levels of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and other substances that are suspected to be carcinogenic.

It will be the first time for the prefectural government to conduct such a survey over the environmental concern.

But the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) remains a roadblock for the prefectural government to overcome in conducting a survey inside the base.

The prefectural government hopes to obtain a better grasp of the situation by investigating groundwater and other areas outside the base.

PFOS has been used in fire-extinguishing foam and other purposes.

But in Japan, its production and use were banned, in principle, in 2010.

In the prefecture, there have been reports of highly concentrated PFOS and other substances being detected in rivers and water purification plants around U.S. bases since 2016.

Prefectural officials have said that the contaminant source is highly likely from inside a U.S. base, based on their water quality survey conducted in surrounding rivers and elsewhere.

The prefectural government in 2021 established a panel of experts to investigate the source of the contaminant.

It has held three meetings, during which experts pointed out the possible presence of a substantially large mass of groundwater or continuing contaminant source, citing that the concentration has remained stable over the past five years.

The experts have noted a necessity to carry out a boring survey on the foundation and build a well to observe the change in the quality of groundwater.

Based on these opinions, the prefectural government is expected to authorize a budget to conduct a boring survey at multiple locations at its regular prefectural assembly meeting.

The SOFA states that the custodial rights of bases belong to the United States.

It is therefore necessary for the prefectural government to obtain cooperation from the United States to conduct a survey within a base.

The prefectural government in 2019 asked the U.S. military to allow it to conduct an on-site survey in the Futenma base.

But it has yet to receive a response, officials said.

“It is best for us to conduct a survey inside the base," a prefectural official said. "But since it is not allowed, we will have to conduct a survey outside it.”

Related News