2nd Phase of Remediation of Dioxin Contamination at Former Da Nang US Air Base Begins
On 18 October, the Ministry of National Defence of Viet Nam and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) jointly commemorated the start of the second and final phase of the “Environmental Remediation of Dioxin Contamination at Da Nang Airport” project.  In attendance were Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, Viet Nam’s Deputy Minister for National Defence; and  the US Ambassador to Viet Nam Ted Osius.


USAID's experts at the dioxin treatment site at the former Da Nang US air base

 

This phase, which remediates a second batch of approximately 45,000 cubic metres of dioxin-contaminated soil and sediment, is expected to be completed in mid-2017 with site restoration and demobilisation expected in 2018.

 

Addressing the event, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, Viet Nam’s Deputy Minister for National Defence, emphasised that the start of the 2nd phase of this project reflects a strong commitment of the two governments and will return a safe and clean space for Da Nang to build a second terminal at the airport in preparation for the 2017 APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation) Summit. 

 

“I would say to the US President at the APEC Summit that the site, which used to be a former airbase and battle site, has been wiped free of dioxin contamination in a joint effort between Viet Nam and the US,” Mr. Vinh added.

 

The “Environmental Remediation of Dioxin Contamination at Da Nang Airport” project, managed by the USAID and Viet Nam’s Ministry of National Defense, will treat an estimated 90,000 cubic metres of contaminated soil and sediment to less than the Government of Viet Nam’s standard of 150 parts per trillion.  In May 2016, the two governments announced the successful treatment of approximately 45,000 cubic metres of contaminated soil from the first phase of thermal treatment, as well as the beneficial reuse of the treated land and soil to expand the Da Nang International Airport.  The long-term impact of the project will be the elimination of potential health risks associated with dioxin exposure from the site.

 

From The Labourer Newspaper

 

 

 

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