So far only one tank at El Toro has been examined. It takes time to react., Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Im afraid for her life: Riverside CC womens coach harassed after Title IX suit, Want to solve climate change? The underground pipes that fed the fuel from the tank to the flightline had gone south. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Since the death of Ray, Laura became a VA benefit advocate encouraging vets to apply for compensation. MGNlMzlmMjVlZjI0YTEyY2E2NzFjZmEzMTQ2NjNhYjMyOTRlMzVlZmY1MWU0 Is DoD/DoN going to continue ignoring claims by Vietnam Era veterans for anomalies not in the original cancer listing; colon/rectal cancer, bacterial & fungal growths completely blocking nasal cavities, growths on/in both kidneys, continuing raspatory issues, complete adrenal failure/shut-down, etc? I had terrible lower stomach problems during my time at El Toro which was more than two years of service. State and local health officials have long pushed for a tank inspection program at El Toro out of concern that the tanks, many of which are as old as the 56-year-old base, may be leaking toxic residues. Will never forget the late night phone call I received informing me that there was a very strong smell of fuel around the HMM-164 Flight Line. NTM4ZDAwNjMzMjY1YjljYjgwNDZlNzIzMzk1NzM5Y2RmMmRmZjE4YmMxYmZj Their findings, released earlier this year, showed the existence of one large plume of TCE-contaminated ground water nearly 3 miles long and half a mile wide that stretches from the El Toro base to a point halfway between Jeffrey Road and Culver Drive, in the Woodbridge area of Irvine. It was even common practice at many installations, including El Toro, to spray dirt lots and vacant fields with petroleum wastes and chemicals to control dust on windy days. I found it odd that a large amount of land at the end of Tustin's runway 24 was leased to a company to grow vegetables, with a similar arrangement in place at El Toro. This California farm kingdom holds a key, Six people, including mother and baby, killed in Tulare County; drug cartel suspected, These are the 101 best restaurants in Los Angeles, New Bay Area maps show hidden flood risk from sea level rise and groundwater. Do Infrared Sauna Blankets and Mats Really Work? None of these sites has yet been excavated or tested, so it is not known whether they contain any high levels of toxic wastes or radioactive material. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last year recommended placing the entire El Toro base on the national Superfund list for toxic waste sites. Marine Corps Air Station El Toro (ICAO: KNZJ, FAA LID: NZJ) was a United States Marine Corps Air Station located next to the community of El Toro, near Irvine, California.. Before it was decommissioned in 1999, it was the 4,682-acre (19 km 2) home of Marine Corps Aviation on the West Coast. In our article, TCE-Related Toxic Waste in Irvine Much Worse Than Previously Revealed from 8 February 2009, it was revealed that a toxic TCE plume from El Toro actually covered considerably more distance than previously believed. By the early 1990s, MCAS Tustin was a major center for Marine Corps helicopter aviation and radar on the Pacific Coast. MCAS Tustin Hangar 2 is a hall in Tustin, California, U.S.A.. View a detailed profile of the structure 241621 including further data and descriptions in the Emporis database. Frankly, I wish we could move faster. . Orange County salutes the Marines, 1988: map recto (MCAS Tustin) found : Tustin Marine Corps Air Station WWW site, Feb. 1, 2002 (Tustin Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS); the installation is approx. Further, in March 2009 the U.S. EPA determined no "potential vapor intrusion problems" exist in Irvine neighborhoods. I currently have been diagnosed with an accessory spleen on the tail of my pancreas. Six CH-46 squadrons from MCAS Tustin have relocated to MCAS El Toro. MDFiOTdiMWYzMzkzZWIyZjNiZDIyYjlhMzc0Nzg4ZDI1MGJkODUyYjU5YmE3 I have had respiratory issues since I was discharged. 1992-04-09 - Radiological contamination in the United States. Salem-News.com's John Uldrich, Bob O'Dowd and Tim King at MCAS Tustin in 2009. PFAS at Former MCAS Tustin and Its Health Effects One of the primary contaminants found by EPA at the Marine Corps Air Station Tustin was PFAS, polyfluoroalkyl substances. PO Box 149200. Irvine will not even admit that the toxic ground and the heavily contaminated water plumes beneath the base are problematic. this was before all the problems were out in the open. We (me and my wife and drs.) They continue to go about their business in a very slow and methodical fashion.. That is much much higher than the general public. asnd when I brought it up to the person in charge at the vet center she gaffed me off. These are man-made chemicals that have resistance properties against water, oil, heat, stains, and more. If you have health issues please file a claim. I'm guessing that they both were irrigating the crops with groundwater. My daughter was born while we lived there. My email is: joeanayausmc@gmail.com, please add me to your page and send info! NGZmN2Y0Njg5MzdkMTQ2ZDlmOGIzZmQ4ZDgyYTc3ZjkzYTkwNTNmMzIxMTAx Get connected with the Department of Veteran Affairs and become familiar with VA benefits. Portsmouth, VA 23708-2103, on June 30, 2009. Storage drums containing paint thinners, hydraulic fluids, oily rags and lubricants must be clearly marked, numbered and stored at one of 60 hazardous waste accumulation sites at the two bases. Marine Corps Air Station Tustin covers an area of about 1,602 acres, and nearly all of the property is located in the City of Tustin, near the center of Orange County. Did you know your niece, her husband and your great niece live in Santa Ana right beside Tustin. Both which have respitory problems as I do. What is even more interesting, is that the Tustin base splits the distance between the two points. MjJlNmVjMzkzZGZjMWZlZDAxM2ZmMTFjMWZmZTJmM2I0MzNkN2EzMTdiMzUx In the early 1980s, residential and commercial areas sprung up opposite the station. Marine Corps officials said it was Defense Department policy not to spend federal money to study chemicals that have seeped into private property unless there was proof they came from the military base. MzNiMWUyMWFjNmQxMWEyNzcwZmNjYTAzNTg4ZDVjNTQ1NzZjOTQ2MDcwNDE0 For years, one person monitored the handling and disposal of tons of hazardous materials and wastes at both air stations. 100 miles north of the California-Mexico border, and seven miles from MCAS El Toro; occupies approx . Having served there for 5 years until the shutdown and our relocation to San Diego, I began experiencing major digestion issues 2 years after being stationed on El Toro. NTEzZWRjOWJkMjk1MmU3OWRmMTFlZGJiYWY5NmFiMzRmMjdlMWY0ZDY4YjVi ZjE3YzJkMWFhZTJhYTg4NzU5NDg2NzQwYmMwMTRhZjg3ZGM3NDU0NDdlODM1 And prior to that lived in Laguna Hills. But the Marines are changing their ways. MCAS El Toro is dangerously toxic, the city of Irvine is directly impacted. Today, asbestos is found in the soil. My generation is only one; Salem-News.com writer Bob O'Dowd was at the base a few years before Roger Butow, and John Uldrich was there a few years before Robert, in the 50's. How sad and gets me and how the city of Irvine know and they are just money hungry and dont care about the residents!! Orange County's Tustin Marine Corps Air Station has contaminated one well with 770,000 ppt of PFOS/PFOA. The City of Santa Ana lies west and northwest of the Air Station. 1 talking about this. I suggest everyone file a claim. Salem-News.com is an Independent Online Newsgroup in the United States, setting the standard for the future of News. The VA initially refused to process her claims before reconsidering and offering her full benefits after Ray lost both his feet. If not for me, for my fellow Marines. So out of maybe a couple hundred, I would guess at least 25-30% battling diseases. Many approved benefits deny within months of approval due to all the bureaucratic red tape and snail pace investigation. It is a tragedy that the legacy of the sites will be this environmental disaster. The good news is that Tustin's Website includes the relevant Web links and the first few paragraphs about the base disclose the environmental problems. In 2013 I had a 3cm golf ball size tumor/mass removed from my brain stem. Thanks for the update. If it receives Superfund status, EPA officials will then oversee inspection, cleanup and monitoring of any hazardous waste sites on base, including the TCE-contaminated ground water. I hope that the federal government will do the right thing and not allow these contaminated sites to be passed off on unsuspecting local governments which would only make the exposure to the public worse. MCAS Tustin, located in Tustin and Irvine, CA, consisted of approximately 1,600 acres. Its hard to come to grips that a Marine or any other military officer dedicates their life to the service only to find that the VA lacks empathy. All of these bases have great historical significance to the country and So. Although the Tustin U.S. Marine Corps Air Station closed in 1999 it has left behind astonishingly high levels of contamination. Environ Health Perspect 107(4):265-71. Based on extensive investigation of the El Toro base that was carried out by Navy contractors, the place is best described as 'Toxic Soup' as our writer Roger Butow in Laguna Beach has reasoned. Download VA Form 10-10068 (PDF) Fax it to 512-460-5536, or. YTkxZGNmNWUzNGUyNDU5ZTdkMTE3YWQ0MWM5NDNlYzVkYjE0NTMxNDcxM2Zi Drunk Driver Sentenced in the Deaths of Four People, Best Practices for Cloud Security and Compliance. Start contacting your elected officials today and demand an investigation! Is there a connection? Even with documentation of paperwork 3 feet high I am constantly in battle to keep my disability. I live here in Salem and I was Stationed at MCAS Tustin from 1996 until they shut it down in 1999, and was then transferred to Camp Pendleton. Similarly, 11 such sites have been identified at the Tustin base. That 110,000-gallon storage tank was found to be in good condition, but a feeder line carrying high-performance jet fuel had a tiny leak, which has been patched, county officials said. Depending on your disabilities and military service you may be entitled to a pension whether your disability is service connected or not. MCAS Tustin is one of many bases that became a superfund site, polluted locations in the United States requiring a long-term response to cleaning up the contamination. MCAS El Toro and Tustin Site Inspection Plan of Action. Dr. Leveque says it is a chemical frequently associated with dry cleaning operations, but we know the military used it, and we know that plumes of toxic chemicals flow from beneath El Toro and they are well-documented and significant. ZTA3OGEwYThlYTUwODNhOWY2OTA1MTc2NWMwMzI2Y2Y4YTA4MWFmNzUyZWYw OWQ4MzMzNTJmZTNmNGNhZDBiOWNiYzVmN2FmNmRhMGNmYzQ1NGJjMzRmNDY3 To make that determination, the corps says that within the next year, it will use more than $500,000 from the militarys $400-million Defense Environmental Restoration Account--the U.S. Defense Departments special environmental cleanup fund--to investigate the suspected hazardous waste sites at each base. -----END REPORT-----. Tustin announced last week that, due to "deferred federal caretaker activities," it will beef up police presence around the north hangar to clear "trespassers and secure buildings that pose. MjEzOTA2NjAwNDU4MDYzNGI1MzQwN2VlMDgyYTBkODlmMzRjNDFkMWJhMmE2 Marines have been exposed to trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE), suffered serious health consequences, and have no idea of what hit them. If you need help with your application, call our Camp Lejeune Family Member program staff at 866-372-1144. Thanks, (I am in Portland). I was Stationed on MCAS (H) Tustin 1981-1984 as well as a few months on El Toro. My dad was a 30 year Marine he loved his job, but he got Parkinson's and died 2 years ago. As a teenager I worked for the Post Exchange (PX) at El Toro and Camp Pendleton. Inhaled an awful lot of turbine exhaust and MIL-L-23699 oil mist, though. We also would dump hydraulic and brake fluid in the corner of our compound. I was discharged in July 1980. Soil and groundwater contamination at MCAS El Toro is a result of several past operations that were accepted practices. VA plans to propose expanded disability benefits eligibility for Veterans exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune - VA News VA announced today that it plans to propose expanded disability compensation eligibility for Veterans exposed to contaminated drinking water while assigned to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. I was stationed at El Toro from 93-95. NDYzZWJjM2FlY2UyNmQyODEwNDkyM2E5OWRjMzQ3OTFiNDgzYjg5MDRlNzUz More information can be found here. ODFiNSIsInNpZ25hdHVyZSI6IjgzYjhlYTEzNzU2ZTFjN2Q1ZmU1MTEzN2M5 YzMxNWVmNTY5M2NjMmMzOTg2NDE1MGIzZTM5NjMzOTAyMDFlNDMxNTZiMDAx YWMyYjc1OGMxNzRjODIyMDQ2NDVkNTg1NmFmZjBkYTgzZDExMmRhN2E2ZmU3 When people say were slow, I think its a fair criticism, Holm said. Thanks again for the article and I'll do more research on my own. A number of Marines report serious illnesses linked to toxic exposure. I wanted to post some information about benefits for those of you that have military service, have a disability, are having financial hardships and dont know where to turn. The Marines are expected to present a timetable for that work at the May 31 meeting of the Orange County Water District. . In fact my ex wife whom was there 10 yrs. At former MCAS El Toro, veterans and dependents reported cancer and other . I spent several years at both bases in the 1990s. I am going to file a compensation claim this week for my time at MCAS Tustin and El Toro. Perchlorate Contamination in the Mather Air Force Base Water Service Area [HTML] HC Rancho Cordova, Sacramento County 5/6/1998 Aerojet-General Corporation Preliminary Health Reviews in Rancho Cordova, Sacramento County [HTML] HC Rancho Cordova, Sacramento County 9/2/1998 Barstow Marine Corps Logistics Base (a/k/a Marine Corps Logistics Base Cost. Has anything been linked to autism from these findings? As for help from the VA one can only hope. Service members continue to get exposed to poisonous chemicals, and the worst part of all is that they are not aware of the damage from exposure to TCE and other chemicals while on duty at installations. Bill Alkofer, Rays son, suffers from many medical illnesses, including a variant of ALS that does not have any medical treatment. The main contaminant is TCE - trichloroethylene, a chemical degreaser that was used to clean jet fighters. I do not, however, recall any events dealing with the chemical issue while XO of Mag-16. It is time for the USMC/USN/DOD and the VA to acknowledge the fact that they knowingly exposed all of us to these carcinogens and take responsibility much the way they did LeJeune. I started smoking in boot camp in San Diego and camp Pendleton Second ITR training and was on leave when Join F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1964 and was ordered back to base canceling boot camp leave. NTJjYmViMTFkNGE2N2Y5ZTIyZmJjZTcwNDMzZTQxNTY4OTkwOGExMWVmN2Iw It was commissioned in October of that year as one of two new blimp bases on the west coast. NzI2NmZlYjgzOTI0M2NkNzVlMDg5YjFhZjY5MDNiZGQ1ODg3OWQ4Y2YyNWI1 YzJkYWY2OWZiZTEzMzAxYTg4NjVlMzcxM2NmZjViZWFkYzk1MDdjNDM2NjI0 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency declared Marine Corps Air Station Yuma a Superfund site in 1990 because the use of asbestos around the base had led to soil contamination. My email is: rickritter78@yahoo.com I now suffer non-reversible Lung disease COPD level 4. Though the Marines have refused to acknowledge full responsibility, county, state and federal officials say the El Toro base is the primary source of the TCE found in the contaminated ground water. Currently dealing with Parkinson's disease with no confirmed link yet to Agent Orange. The Air Force failed to disclose to the U.S. Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs that George Air Force Base, CA had several radiological decontamination centers for aircraft and personnel that were involved the nuclear cloud sampling program in the 1950s-60s. A total of 25 potentially contaminated areas were identified on the Air Station, including four landfills suspected of containing both hazardous and solid waste, and other areas where polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), battery acids, leaded fuels, and other hazardous substances were suspected of being dumped or spilled. The DoD began widespread testing for contamination in drinking water at its facilities in 2016 . OWFkNzJiNjc4YTk0YWQzNDU4MGUyMTQwZDYyMGRkYmMzNGM0NGRmZGI2ODMz Only 80 of the tanks are in use; the rest have been abandoned and, for the most part, are empty. James M. Montgomery Engineers, Inc. 1988. In 1992 I had to have surgery for a perforated ulcer. Construction of the Tustin LTA facility began on April 1, 1942; it was operational in just over 6 months. Some of my Marine Corps friends have died, some have lost children, many simply can not be located. Sadly many sailors and Marines who got sick from solvents, grease, and other confirmed detective toxins in contaminated water. In particular, the high . When in service, officers give their lives to protect their country, but it is a real shame that they have to battle the Department of VA for benefits while on their last leg. Deadly Toxic Chemicals From Marine Base Threaten Irvine Neighborhoods Tim King Salem-News.com A legacy of deadly, hazardous waste from a closed Marine air base is quietly invading parts of Orange County, California. The DOD data from Tustin, a base that closed in. Trouble is, this is a big place, and people forget that were like a small city. PFAS are usually found in household and industrial products. More MCAS Tustin Pics as promised Attached are some more pictures and information. The 246-square-mile military training complex was established in. -----BEGIN REPORT----- The Defense Department needs to notify veterans, dependents and civilian workers of the contaminants and their health effects at EPA Superfund sites. The TCE is far from the only contaminant prominent at El Toro, another is PCE - perchloroethylene, another chemical degreaser, and another is Benzene, a fuel ingredient that is extremely dangerous. Your access to this site was blocked by Wordfence, a security provider, who protects sites from malicious activity. t.dvorak@sbcglobal.net. Ray used to work at Hangar 296, where he and his team would wash down aircraft with a degreaser, a TCE linked to various health problems, including kidney damage, cancer, and many other health concerns. Since 2002, at least 270 environmental accidents on U.S. Marine Corps bases on Okinawa have contaminated land and local waterways but, until now, almost none of these incidents has been made public. YzcwMzc4NDhmM2E5OTk4NGYwNDU5YmI2NzI5ZTQ2NzkxYTUxNzM0MDRlMjIx In 2001, communities near Hill Air Force Base in Utah showed a high risk of developing brain cancer, while Fallon Naval Air Station was investigated for acute childhood leukemia incidents, and. MGQ1YTAyNWQ2OTcwM2RjZTE5YmU0MDQ5NjBlNjAzZDMzNTFkOTc2MmVjOTFl building', that cited levels of tetrachloroethylene exceeding safety standards - discovered beneath offices used by Orange County government agencies, including the Sheriff's Department and Social Services. I remember the base exchange at El Toro well, there is a great deal to keep up on, thanks for writing. According to the City of Tustin's, 'Tustin Legacy' Website, MCAS Tustin-(LTA) has an environmental history of contamination that includes but is not limited to, solvents and jet fuel supporting the base operations, and pesticides associated with the agricultural uses. Lucky I was still active duty and was medically retired a year later. The station overaw military blimps, which were used to patrol the coast during World War II. Established in 1942, the Marine Corps Air Station Tustin is a former US Marine Corps Air Station in Orange County, California. The 'Great Park Corporation'- overseeing the 'park' project, and the city of Irvine are in quite a fix. The ground-water issue remains he most serious problem, however. When the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Board, a state agency, ordered the Marines to initiate testing to determine how far the TCE contamination had spread off the base, the Marines refused. The DRMO was the storage area for containerized liquids, scrap, and salvage materials from El Toro and MCAS Tustin. I spent time at both El Toro and Tustin along with Cherry Point, New River, and Cecil Field. Cost in 2015 plus expected future cost of cleanup. Under the Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC) of 1990, the US moved all its assets, including personnel, equipment, and support from MCAS El Toro and MCAS Tustin, to other locations in Southern California, such as NAS Miramar. I would like to know more about the effects of these exposures and the medical conditions they may lead to. I am not a scientist, but I can look at the associated map and see that the plume from El Toro reaching Irvine, is stretching at least in the general direction of the contaminated government building in Orange. MTA5Nzc5ZDU2OWY0ZTZkNDVjYmZjOTljOTdlYjI4MzM2NWQyMjBjOWFkN2U5 The contaminants were discovered in 1985, the majority of the removal done in 1997, base closure in 1999, a shopping center built around 2005, and grading for houses in 2008. According to the City of Tustin's, 'Tustin Legacy' Website, MCAS Tustin- (LTA) has an environmental history of contamination that includes but is not limited to, solvents and jet fuel supporting the base operations, and pesticides associated with the agricultural uses. Tim King: Thanks very much Rod for pointing out these important facts, your dad's service was valuable to this country and I am sorry you lost him. The source was not known and there was concern that we could have a major explosion unless the source was determined and fixed. Moreover, recent USMC guidelines order service . did lease land to a local agricultural concern that seemed to have a year round program growing vegetables as close to the base roads and flight line areas as possible. The EPA declared their high contaminants in the groundwater and the soil. Marine Corps Air Station Tustin (IATA: NTK, ICAO: KNTK, FAA LID: NTK) is a former United States Marine Corps air station, located in Tustin, California. See the California water data here. moritz1111@hotmail.com. Since 1984, the Marines have added five experts to their environmental staff, headed by Navy Ensign Michael Rehor, a chemical engineer. 2023 Salem-News.com. As a long time resident of Orange County, it's been hard to find out why this land hasn't been put to use sooner (besides the economy being what it is). Last year (2015) I had some medical complications. The building has already led to two lawsuits. Constructed of Oregon Douglas fir, they are among the largest freestanding wooden structures in the world at 1072 feet long by 292 feet wide by 192 feet tall. The Environmental Protection Agency identified 12 sites for cleanup. On July 3, 1999, MCAS Tustin was officially closed, 57 years after the base and its iconic hangars arose from the farm fields of Orange County. A few friends and I who normally performed 'tactical refueling' of Marine jets at El Toro, were sent to Tustin to revive the use of a large above-ground jet fuel tank. Final Cleanup Action. But he predicted that the Marines new attitude will be tested as water and health experts begin acting to clean up what is potentially the largest ground-water contamination case in Orange County history. Strange story I know; it is bizarre that Marines were able to upseat the Navy and take over their prominent base that way, but there was not enough room and it was a very expensive operation as it turned out. i was stationes in both places between 1993-1998. The aquifer is a pocket of porous rock near the earths surface where water collects. MjkwNDhlYzFjMTIzMTgwYjZiNmQzNWE0MWFmYmQwNTE2NTQxOGE0ZGQxOWRh The Marines conducted their own study and found TCE-contaminated ground water at three locations on the base. Do I need a permit to have a garage sale.