Big Island News: Depleted Uranium: To Test or not to Test, that is the Question.
Depleted Uranium has been a serious issue on the Big Island since 2006, when reports started confirming that there were indeed depleted uranium rounds used at Pohakuloa Training Area.
Over the years since these reports came out, Army and State officials have tried to ease the worries of residents, with out giving any real data. Locals have been pushing for serious testing to be done, and for all army records related to depleted uranium rounds be released to the public.
Russell Takata who works for the State Department of Health, was quoted in 2007 as saying that "There is no immediate hazard to the public, as far as we're concerned, the background levels are within the normal limits."
Stefanie Gardin, spokeswoman for the U.S. Army Garrison in Hawaii, was also quoted in 2007 "The impact area where the depleted uranium was found is a remote area that is not open to public access, it is highly unlikely that any members of the general population would come into contact with depleted uranium there."
2009 is almost upon us and still the Army has not released complete copies of the records for Pohakuloa. The State Department of Health began doing tests in March, but their operations did not even last a month.
Some residents believe there is a cover up. That there is a possible threat to residents. Unconfirmed readings from residents who took it upon themselves to test the radiation levels in Mauka Kona, showed dangerous levels.
Promises have been made that tests will resume soon, but the fact of the matter is that almost two years after public outcry for tests to be done, there has been no testing. There has been no full account of how much depleted uranium rounds made their way to the Big Island, and there has been no sign that the army or the government really takes this possible threat seriously.
Furthermore, The Stryker Brigade that the army has been pushing to be stationed on the Big Island uses Depleted Uranium rounds.
The M900 Depleted Uranium APFSDS-T Armor Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot - Tracer cartridge is the primary anti-armor 105mm tank ammunition in service with the United States Army and Marine Corps. This fourth-generation kinetic energy projectile is capable of penetrating the frontal slope of fielded adversary armor systems. The penetrator and sabot design provides excellent accuracy at all combat ranges. This cartridge is compatible with the US M-1, M-60, and M-48 series tanks emplying sic the 105mm M-68 cannon.
The current KE cartridge, the M900 Armor Piercing, Fin Stabilized, Discarding Sabot with Tracer (APFSDS-T), will provide the Stryker MGS with the capability to destroy a variety of light skinned and armored vehicles (through the T-62 tank) in a self-defense role. The cartridge is currently in inventory and was originally developed and procured for the M1 Abrams tank. This round was type-classified in 1989.
The cartridge is equipped with a depleted uranium penetrator section designed for a muzzle velocity of 1,500 meters per second. The M-900 is made up of a steel case and savoy, depleted uranium penetrator rod, M43 propellant, and a fuse.
The electrically initiated primer ignites the propelling charge and tracer. Gases produced by the burning propellant propel the projectile from the gun. The tracer burns for a minimum of 2.5 seconds. The sabot is discarded after leaving the muzzle of the weapon, as a result of setback, centrifugal, and air pressure forces. The solid core of the projectile continues to the target.
Below is a CNN video on Depleted Uranium and possible threats.
