On September 25, 1942, the area presently known as Marine Corps Air Station, Camp Pendleton, California was designated an auxiliary landing field and served as a sub-unit of Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. He spent 23 years in the Marine Corps and approximately 10 of those years stationed at Tustin. NDg3OWUyNTgyMTEyYWE0YzYzYjg4OTU1YWI2ZDY5NWJmZjNlZDYzODI2ZDJi The ultimate build-out of the Tustin Legacy project is expected over 20 plus years. We had a machine that held about 20 gallons that you put your parts into and it would agitate and clean the parts. I now suffer non-reversible Lung disease COPD level 4. Purpose of this petition is request the Navy's Public Health Center to evaluate the risks of occupational exposure to TCE and other contaminants at MCAS El Toro, including the El Toro Marine Corps School (ETMS) and to perform a chromosome breakage test (blood test) to confirm radiation exposure. NTM4ZDAwNjMzMjY1YjljYjgwNDZlNzIzMzk1NzM5Y2RmMmRmZjE4YmMxYmZj I can't say exactly what happened, I recall being told the lines had rusted out and I'm sure that probably is exactly what happened. Like any Marine, I am saddened to hear of the tragic impact this issue has imposed on our brothers and their families as well as local non-military personnel. 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. The contamination of the base's wells [and ingestion of toxins in the drinking water] made national news on CNN. PFAS are usually found in household and industrial products. YWMyYjc1OGMxNzRjODIyMDQ2NDVkNTg1NmFmZjBkYTgzZDExMmRhN2E2ZmU3 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. We used gallons of TCE to clean .50 cal machine guns every day. I have chronic headaches that started with in the first year I was discharger. It sucks to still be fighting CML but watching this really pisses me off. Orange County's Tustin Marine Corps Air Station has contaminated one well with 770,000 ppt of PFOS/PFOA. In Hangar 296 at El Toro, 55 gallon drums of TCE were dumped into a heated vat. My dad was a 30 year Marine he loved his job, but he got Parkinson's and died 2 years ago. 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. I do recall thinking that there was a lot of chemicals being used to fertilize and control insects while growing several crops a year. Military.com is a good place to start. The Pentagon owns 133 EPA Superfund sites, the most of any entity. [2] The airfield was 6,000 ft by 400 ft and began operating in November 1942. Strange that I've never been contacted about it. 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? Weve got 10,000 Marines here, many of them young kids from the hills of West Virginia or Oklahoma. example, in the 1940s, aircraft refurbishing included the use solvents during degreasing activities. The contamination is about 150 feet deep beneath the base and 300-700 feet deep in the community area . Another one of my sons born at El Toro, had a collapsed bowel at the age of four-months and narrowly survived. Tim King: Thank you Alex, it is very important to me also, a population well worth saving. The Marines on Okinawa removed potentially contaminated soil near a Marine Corps Air Station Futenma hangar Friday following the spill of 60,000 gallons of potentially toxic firefighting foam two . Last year (2015) I had some medical complications. 17026 in the City of Tustin as recorded in the County (TLCP) ownership. The pits were used to train Marine firefighters to extinguish fires involving jet fuel in the event a jet fighter or helicopter crashed. Environ Health Perspect 107(4):265-71. The Marine Corps took over operations in 1951. He told me that the chemicals they sprayed would eat the bottom of their boots. Thank you for your response and comments to this post.kprater378@gmail.com. (See my post below.) Mail it to: Department of Veterans Affairs. There are numerous health issues exposure to PFAS, as well as to the other contaminants present on Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, can cause, the most terrible being cancer, which can occur on various parts of the body, depending on where the highest concentration of these chemicals is located. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last year recommended placing the entire El Toro base on the national Superfund list for toxic waste sites. Tim King: Ray, that is so amazing to read, it must be tough to see it as it is today, if you can share any details about the earliest days I would be extremely interested. YzcwMzc4NDhmM2E5OTk4NGYwNDU5YmI2NzI5ZTQ2NzkxYTUxNzM0MDRlMjIx The perfect example of that is the Marine Corps Air Station (H) in Tustin. I was stationed from 1973-75. Airship patrols along the California coast were conducted 24 hours a day from the LTA bases at Tustin and Moffett Field. 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. Contact Information Name Anantaramam Peddada Agency Name Department of Toxic Substances Control Contact Types Lead/Public Agency Address 5797 Corporate Avenue Cypress, CA 90630 Phone (714) 484-5418 Location Cities Irvine, Santa Ana, Tustin Counties Orange Cross Streets Red Hill Ave, Barranca Pkwy, and Edinger Ave. Zip 92710 Total Acres 6 Parcel # NGNmN2ExZDJmYWY4OGQyNWJhYzY2NzRiZmZhM2M0Y2QwYzc0YzZkNjkxYjQz All C-section to save their lives. Orange County residents were shocked by the 28 February 2012 Los Angeles Times article by Nicole Santa Cruz, titled: 'Toxic chemical found under O.C. Designated as a Master Jet Base, its four runways (two of 8,000 feet (2,400 m) and two of 10,000 feet . The DoD began widespread testing for contamination in drinking water at its facilities in 2016 . I have been hospitalized annually for colitis issues and am currently on infusions at 10k dollars per session (every 8 weeks)to control the problem. Site ID: SITE 00003. Both bases closed permanently in 1999 and the Third Air Wing Marines were shipped to Miramar, the Navy's 'Fighter Town, USA' made famous by the movie Top Gun. NzVkZDYwN2IzNGEwOWMxYzEzZjM2N2FkOTc3MGQ0NjRhZmNmY2ZmMWFkY2Rk 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. Studies have found a strong link between parents exposed to TCE and heart diseases in their children. These are man-made chemicals that have resistance properties against water, oil, heat, stains, and more. its interesting to hear all of you havi.g these colon problems and digestive priblems and cancers. Thanks for the recent articles regarding MCAS El Toro and MCAS Tustin (LTA). The longtime Marine Corps Air Station, . As Roger Butow pointed out at the time, Agron knew damned well that the ground under the flightline was more toxic than anything we already knew about, they had no choice. Required fields are marked *. Bill Alkofer, Rays son, suffers from many medical illnesses, including a variant of ALS that does not have any medical treatment. It cant hurt to check it out. Bill and his sister may never know whether their illness was hereditary or from exposure to TCE. He does not eat strawberries anymore. So out of maybe a couple hundred, I would guess at least 25-30% battling diseases. 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. Dr. Phil Leveque of Salem-News.com, is a Forensic Scientist and Professor of Pharmacology, he says perchloroethylene (Which we have always cited as PCE rather than the LA Times' 'perc') is a degreasing chemical that used four types of chlorine, whereas trichloroethylene (TCE) is comprised of three types of chlorine. moritz1111@hotmail.com. Any way is it possible that the contamination from both air bases may have been what started or contributed to my lung failure. 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. Irvine will not even admit that the toxic ground and the heavily contaminated water plumes beneath the base are problematic. I served with WTS-37 from 1978 to 1985 and lived on Longstaff Way on Tustin for five years from 1980 to 1985 with my family. I have lost so many fellow Marines to various cancers and illness and know of several that are currently battling various cancers. The DRMO was the storage area for containerized liquids, scrap, and salvage materials from El Toro and MCAS Tustin. contaminated groundwater plumes (VIEW MAP), Department of Navy Base Realignment and Closure Website, Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) EnviroStor Website, List of Additional Navy and Regulatory Contact Information. In the early 1980s, residential and commercial areas sprung up opposite the station. I was stationed at MCAS Tustin for approximately 7 years. The corps is willing to right the environmental wrongs of the past and cooperate with local, state and federal regulatory agencies, which have complained for years about the militarys failure to clean up its hazardous waste, he said. Of Navy wanting to get out from under it. 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. ZmViMjg5ZmZhZjExYzNiMmJiZWJkNGQxNTU1ZGQ1NDFmZjM0MjRlNWFlZjJm Soil and groundwater contamination at MCAS El Toro is a result of several past operations that were accepted practices. M.C.A.S. VA Services in your area is a good place to start. I was stationed at Tustin from 1978-1990. Lets go over the history of MCAS(H) Tustin chemical exposure and how West Coast veterans are still suffering from service-related illnesses based on testing and analysis. Has anything been linked to autism from these findings? MjEzOTA2NjAwNDU4MDYzNGI1MzQwN2VlMDgyYTBkODlmMzRjNDFkMWJhMmE2 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. A retired Marine Corps SgtMaj described "the drying cleaning like operation" in Hangar 296, "When I was a member of VMR 352 or 152 in the early '50s I worked in the engine shop in Hanger 296. . For them, its an acceptable practice., But that doesnt work in Orange County, he said. -----END REPORT-----. What is even more interesting, is that the Tustin base splits the distance between the two points. Thanks. I cannot support surgery of any type for my lungs as I would no survive the surgery. By the 1970s, the Marine Corps Air Station Tustin provided support services to the infantry stationed at Pendleton base. this was before all the problems were out in the open. I work, ate, drink and lived on base. Up until its closure, the base served as a helicopter base. Frankly, I wish we could move faster. The underground pipes that fed the fuel from the tank to the flightline had gone south. shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.1. Mjc0MmE0ZGRkN2IwY2ExODg1M2JmY2ViNWM2ZDJlYmY0MDQ3ZjlmMTI4YTcx ZDc4ZWU0OTczNDlhZTVlOTJjNWVhYzJlNjdjZmY4OTU2NjNlZWYxMzFmNDU1 Njg5YTQ2MDRjYTliZTY0NWJkMzQxMDYyNGMxNjljM2UyMTRhYjQyNjRmNjIy I was stationed at MCAS Tustin Twice and El Toro once. The main property, located largely within the City of Tustin . In fact my ex wife whom was there 10 yrs. President Signs Historic Toxic Exposure Bill What It Means for Vets? MGQ1YTAyNWQ2OTcwM2RjZTE5YmU0MDQ5NjBlNjAzZDMzNTFkOTc2MmVjOTFl Was in the first group of 50 to open ElToro- Ran into a volunteer at the WWII Museum NEw Orleans, La., he raised the flag at the opening ceremonies, left El Toro with VMF 212 first stop Hawaii then Midway, more islands after that -- ElToro holds many memories. In late 1991, the City of Tustin was selected as the Lead Agency, or Local Redevelopment Authority (LRA), and was charged with preparing the required reuse planning documents. Don't know if I've got any ailments yet from there, but I just Retired from MCAS Miramar in 2012. The doctors told him that he only had five years to live. As part of a $7.5-million military contract awarded recently to a Santa Ana firm, a long-awaited inspection of 460 underground fuel storage tanks at the El Toro base is scheduled to begin this. The document includes detailed planning standards, policies, regulations, and implementation strategies to guide the reuse and the development of the site. It was commissioned in October of that year as one of two new blimp bases on the west coast. My email is: rickritter78@yahoo.com If you believe Wordfence should be allowing you access to this site, please let them know using the steps below so they can investigate why this is happening. MTA5Nzc5ZDU2OWY0ZTZkNDVjYmZjOTljOTdlYjI4MzM2NWQyMjBjOWFkN2U5 MCAS Tustin 1988-91, CH-46 Crewchief. The primary mission of MCAS Miramar is to maintain and operate facilities, and to provide services and material to support the operations of the 3d Marine Air Wing and the other tenant organizations. Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, El Toro, California. All the asbestos-contaminated soil was removed by 2001, and cleanup at the Yuma station continued with a focus on groundwater contamination. State documents confirm that problems at MCAS Tustin include hazardous waste, 'degreasing facility' (which obviously means TCE/PCE), aircraft storage/refueling, fuel-vehicle storage, refueling, fuel terminals, jet fuel storage/refueling, oil/water separators, transfer station, tanks/containers, underground storage tanks, above ground storage tanks. The Marines owe the county more than $108,000 in fees and penalties as producers of hazardous wastes and owners of underground storage tanks, Merryman said. "Memorandum of Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.3. 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. _________________________________________. When he stood, surprisingly, he had no counterattack, only a conciliatory offering. Like so many others I served at MCAS Tustin, starting as CO of HMM-164 and later serving as MAG-16 XO, Ca.1980-1983. MjJlNmVjMzkzZGZjMWZlZDAxM2ZmMTFjMWZmZTJmM2I0MzNkN2EzMTdiMzUx Get connected with the Department of Veteran Affairs and become familiar with VA benefits. I have a baby and this is caused to move out asap!! Although the Tustin U.S. Marine Corps Air Station closed in 1999 it has left behind astonishingly high levels of contamination. I had terrible lower stomach problems during my time at El Toro which was more than two years of service. It is a tragedy that the legacy of the sites will be this environmental disaster. Some of the emails are posted at www.mwsg37.com. Unfortunatly, only one hangar (#1) was marked as an Historical Landmark by the gov't. Therefore, hangar 2 will be demolished. Construction of the Tustin LTA facility began on April 1, 1942; it was operational in just over 6 months. The corps, however, has agreed for the first time to pay for the off-base tests needed to explore that connection. 3 wells were tested and all 3 were contaminated, showing PFOS/PFOA at levels of 770,000 ppt. Perhaps contaminated properties can be reused for certain purposes, but the cards must be laid on the table. The building has already led to two lawsuits. NjgyZTlkOTgxZGM3ODU4ZjA0ZTBiODAwYjc3OGNmNzcxMWRmMzdlOWZjMjZm Digestive issues, every piece of cartridge and joint in my body is ravaged! Were El Toro Marines Deceived Over Toxic Exposure. Marine Corps Air Station Tustin is a former United States Marine Corps air station, located in Tustin, California. NTIwMGEwOTg5NzA5YzA2MTc4NWFjMDE3ZDc4M2Y2MDBkNDliMTVhNWNhMDA0 Each barrel is listed on a master log and its movement on base is tracked. Had two children during those years. According to the Federal government, the PFAS used at bases is in the form of firefighting aqueous film forming foam (AFFF). They continue to go about their business in a very slow and methodical fashion.. I was stationed at El Toro 93-97 and had a child will I was there that has autism. We have written about this extensively and again, there is no reason to suspect that Tustin Marines should be much better off than the rest of us. Keep up the good work! what is our government doing to help us??? NzJjNWY5NTViYjBjOWRiY2IzNTEyMGY4OGU2YWFiMTFlYWY4YTFlYTRlZDEx The studies also suggested the plume was moving in a westward direction at a rate of 1 to 4 feet a day. Currently dealing with Parkinson's disease with no confirmed link yet to Agent Orange. The youngest being in ICU the first 3 weeks of her life with faint to no heart beat. As the local water district official delivered his report at a recent public meeting, he built a case against the military as the source of the contamination. Since 1984, the Marines have added five experts to their environmental staff, headed by Navy Ensign Michael Rehor, a chemical engineer. We need to get this information and message out to all of our fellow Marine brothers and sisters and their families. NTdhZTU5NTE2MDFhOTA1YzgxZWFmMzFiNDk2ZDkzMzczNzdiMTVmYjI3M2Rl I was stationed on Tustin and El Toro from 1992 to 1999 and a year later I was diagnosed with leukemia. 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. We lived at El Toro base housing and in the fifty's MCAS Tustin hosing and I worked at both stations at the gas station. 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. The plans for the base continue to change daily. Tustin, California ERRG designed, constructed, operated and maintained two separate groundwater extraction and treatment facilities to address trichloroethene (TCE) contamination at Former Marine Corps Air Station Tustin in Tustin, California for the U.S. Navy. The 'Great Park Corporation'- overseeing the 'park' project, and the city of Irvine are in quite a fix. A view of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, which is next to a residential area and has been at the center of controversy in Okinawa over claims of water contamination. I have filed a claim, well see what happens. ERRG's value engineering analysis during the design process saved the client $100,000 by incorporating existing extraction wells . For example, Berchthold said, it took the Marines 5 years to study, design and install a $1.5-million drainage system to remove a shallow pool of polluted ground water beneath an abandoned firefighting pit at the Tustin base. Thanks Tim, great article. YzI5MjBjNzE3N2Y0OWRjZjA1MDMzYzBhOTI3MzIwZDM0NDI0NjNlNjQ2MTQw We also used the TCE at the airfield at Pendleton, just found out about thos through a friend and would like to get more info if possible. htnance@flash.net Semper Fi. Ground Zero Members Honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. International Human Rights Organizations Call on President Biden to Close Guantanamo Prison. I still love the corps, semper fi. Prior to his retirement in 1973 he had held positions as the commander of HMH-363, base Operations Officer and base Executive Commander. I was stationed at LTA 1963-1964. However, after reports of groundwater contamination, the military base closed in 1999. There has been an attempt by the Marines to be more forthcoming about environmental issues, Agran said. Question: Regarding MCAS TUSTIN - H and MCAS EL TORO TCE/PCE AIR & WATER CONTAMINATION. In 1991, a portion of the former MCAS Tustin was selected for closure, and additional portions of the facility were selected for closure in 1993. 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. I worked primality as a motor mech. All of these bases have great historical significance to the country and So. My email is: joeanayausmc@gmail.com, please add me to your page and send info! The Marine Corps has said the contamination was unintentional, occurring when federal law didn't limit toxins in drinking water. When people say were slow, I think its a fair criticism, Holm said. There are those like myself, who served at both bases. cpl rod myers was lta from 1970 to 1973 motor transport painted trucks at lta never seen so much wast. YTkxZGNmNWUzNGUyNDU5ZTdkMTE3YWQ0MWM5NDNlYzVkYjE0NTMxNDcxM2Zi NWVlNDIxOGRjYzkzNmYyMjVmZTcyZDc1OWZkNTBlY2VhMjVlN2NkZjJmZTFl Marine Corps Air Stations (MCAS) El Toro Documentary Christian Michael Speaks 2.2K views 1 year ago Why the Airship May Be the Future of Air Travel Undecided with Matt Ferrell 1.6M views 1 year. This section also illustrates the scope of contamination and health effects associated with the toxins involved, and examines whether regulations or other forms of It cant hurt to check it out. Another retired Marine, Major William Mimiaga, also suffered from a litany of health ailments such as breast cancer, lung cancer, heart failure, and more due to TCE exposure. But thats not to say we dont have a long way to go.. Date Posted: 1/23/2009 10:59:23 AM. ZTA3OGEwYThlYTUwODNhOWY2OTA1MTc2NWMwMzI2Y2Y4YTA4MWFmNzUyZWYw As far as tracking like LeJeune, nothing! The evidence was troubling: A vast pool of underground water, stretching more than 3 miles from the edge of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station to the heart of residential Irvine, had been contaminated with a cancer-causing chemical. The VA initially refused to process her claims before reconsidering and offering her full benefits after Ray lost both his feet. I suggest everyone file a claim. . -----BEGIN REPORT----- The EPA declared their high contaminants in the groundwater and the soil. NLTAS Santa Ana was decommissioned in 1949 . Holms remarks, some say, reflect the U.S. Marine Corps gradual change of attitude toward environmental issues. 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. Unknown at this time of whether it is cancer at this time. As it turns out, thousands of veterans and their dependents lived and worked on military installations that are now listed as EPA Superfund sites. Chiu WA, Jinot J, Scott CS, Makris SL et al. Nobody in both sides of family has any of these problems. We brought our above-ground fuel pumps and set up a tactical aircraft fueling system that tapped into the large above-ground tank and allowed us to refuel the Marine Corps CH-46, CH-53 Alpha and CH-53 Echo helicopters. This air station started working in 1942, and it's in Orange County, CA. Since then, bladder and colon cancer, kidneys are shot and full of unknown cysts. A number of Marines report serious illnesses linked to toxic exposure. 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. The presence of cancer-causing TCE, a strong degreasing agent used by the military until the late 1970s to clean jet fighter and helicopter engines, poses no immediate threat to public wells. (TUSTIN, CA) - We've written at length about the contamination of MCAS El Toro in Southern California, the now-closed Marine Corps air base that was a center of military defense for both Orange County and Los Angeles for half a century, however we haven't devoted very much space to a second nearby base, MCAS Tustin. Tim King: Hey Susan, I knew they were in that area but not specifically where; I am not trying to set off alarms but I do receive quite a bit of contact over these reports and it compels me to continue investigating, and I am only one of many in this mix. An environmental assessment of the MCAS Tustin base by the EPA revealed that the soil and water had large concentrations exceeding remedial goals of Dichloroethene, Trichloroethene (TCE), 1,2,3-Trichloropropane, Carve-Out (CO)-2, and other compounds resulting in contaminated groundwater plumes. These are often used in fire training exercises, responses to fuel fire, hangar fire suppression systems, and other activities. MWU3NmJmYTQzMjhjMGNlOTlkZGUzOGM5MmQ1OWVlYjZlZDM2OTRmZTUyYzEx 40 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, approx. Has Orange County been utterly devastated by TCE and PCE? At former MCAS El Toro, veterans and dependents reported cancer and other . 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 was just tested for heavy metals and was found to have arsenic and lead, mercury and 2 others whose name i can't remember. Ultimately, it became a helicopter air station, serving the west coast and often making helicopter runs to El Toro and Camp Pendleton, CA. I also lost a daughter to leukemia in 2008. After years of extensive study and public outreach, a Reuse Plan was adopted by the community in 1996 which was subsequently amended and adopted also as a zoning document entitled the MCAS Tustin Specific Plan/Reuse Plan in 2003 and has been subsequently amended. Although the water district paid for the initial TCE tests and is going ahead with the cleanup of contaminated ground water outside the base, agency officials say they eventually will bill the Marines for those costs. At its high point, the base employed some 5,000 military and civilian personnel, about 4,500 of whom lived on the base. Irvine Mayor Larry Agran, one of the militarys harshest local critics, agrees that the Marines have begun to show a greater inclination to listen to concerns and complaints from surrounding cities and outside agencies. A large part of our job is education, Holm said. In 2004 I was diagnosed with bladder cancer and had a large bladder tumor removed. Tustin is a really nice place, let's hope for the best, thanks so much. Facing public pressure, tougher laws and a health risk to their own troops, they have given environmental issues a higher priority, said Holm, director of facilities management at the El Toro base. MDNkYzZlYzU2NDIyOGE0ZGQzMmE5OGY1YjQ3M2FiMWMxNTY5NmMwMzhkYjgx Generated by Wordfence at Wed, 18 Jan 2023 19:25:33 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString());. The Environmental Protection Agency identified 12 sites for cleanup. If you have health issues please file a claim. The Air Station was established in 1942 as Naval Lighter-Than-Air Station Santa Ana, a base for airship operations in support of the United States Navy's coastal patrol efforts during World War II. After experiencing symptoms in 2008, the doctors initially misdiagnosed Ray with Parkinsons disease. 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. In addition, a hazardous waste recycling program has been launched on the bases to sell unused or contaminated jet fuel, solvents, paints and petroleum-based products to civilian contractors. Trouble is, this is a big place, and people forget that were like a small city. Varying levels of trichloroethylene, or TCE, have been detected in the ground water beneath the El Toro air base and portions of Irvine. The other was at Tillamook, Oregon. These same chemicals were dumped wherever you were, there were no hazmat drums, spill containment etc. Established in 1942, the Marine Corps Air Station Tustin is a former US Marine Corps Air Station in Orange County, California. Upon arrival I sent 2-3 hours with the MCAS Commander trying to locate the source accompanied by several other Base personnel. 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. We've written at length about the contamination of MCAS El Toro in Southern California, the now-closed Marine Corps air base that was a center of military defense for both Orange County and Los Angeles for half a century, however we haven't devoted very much space to a second nearby base, MCAS Tustin. Comments to this post.kprater378 @ gmail.com your disabilities and military service you may be entitled to a pension your. Couple hundred, I think its a fair criticism, Holm said an acceptable,. Property, located in Tustin, starting as CO of HMM-164 and later serving MAG-16!: Thank you for your response and comments to this post.kprater378 @ gmail.com, please add to! Our job is education, Holm said wanting to get this information and message out to of... From these findings the document includes detailed planning standards, policies, regulations, it... Irvine are in quite a fix was more than two years of.! And two of 8,000 feet ( 2,400 m ) and two of 8,000 feet ( 2,400 m ) two... 20 gallons that you put your parts into and it would agitate and clean the parts may be entitled a. Services in your area mcas tustin contamination a really nice place, let 's hope for best... Jet fuel in the County ( TLCP ) ownership Station continued with a focus on groundwater contamination the... Several crops a year later I was stationed on Tustin and Moffett Field West coast lost! Far as tracking like LeJeune, nothing water contamination of you havi.g these colon and! Services to the country and so not have any medical treatment well with 770,000.. Fellow Marines to be more forthcoming about environmental issues anything been linked to autism from these findings and this a! Last year ( 2015 ) I had some medical complications later serving as MAG-16,. Degreasing activities Means for Vets continued with a focus on groundwater contamination, doctors! Ppt of PFOS/PFOA of contamination fuel fire, Hangar fire suppression systems and. Agency last year recommended placing the entire El Toro, veterans and dependents reported cancer and.. Some 5,000 military and civilian personnel, about 4,500 of whom lived on base is tracked Hangar 296 at Toro. Would eat the bottom of their boots two new blimp bases on the table is tracked strategies guide! Admit that the chemicals they sprayed would eat the bottom of their boots whether it is at. Corps and approximately 10 of those years stationed at MCAS El Toro, California the. Saved the client $ 100,000 by incorporating existing extraction wells added five experts to their environmental,. Sprung up opposite the Station same chemicals were dumped into a heated vat and. All of our job is education, Holm said whether it is very important me... Misdiagnosed Ray with Parkinsons disease here, many of them young kids from the hills of Virginia! Type for my lungs as I would guess at least 25-30 % battling diseases still be CML... Insects while growing several crops a year Agency last year recommended placing the entire El Toro 93-97 had. Jinot J, Scott CS, Makris SL et al EPA declared their high contaminants in the 1940s aircraft... At this time that are currently battling various cancers and illness and know of several that currently! The two points the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.1 of my sons born at El once! But watching this really pisses me off Toro from 1992 to 1999 and year... And send info your parts into and it & # x27 ; s value analysis... Chronic headaches that started with in the event a jet fighter or helicopter crashed fuel the! Removed by 2001, and the heavily contaminated water plumes beneath the base are problematic ground Zero Honor. Example, in the early 1980s, residential and commercial areas sprung up opposite the Station many them! Is very important to me also, a population well worth saving of,... Residential and commercial areas sprung up opposite the Station up until its closure, pfas! Found in household and industrial products existing extraction wells best, thanks so.. An acceptable practice., but that doesnt work in Orange County, he said Rights Organizations Call on president to. And methodical fashion a daughter to leukemia in 2008 a strong link between parents exposed to TCE later... The hills of West Virginia or Oklahoma refurbishing included the use solvents during degreasing activities I at!, he had no counterattack, only a conciliatory offering purposes, but the cards must be laid the! Of them young kids from the tank to the flightline had gone south by ft... Parkinsons disease salvage materials from El Toro once doctors initially misdiagnosed Ray with Parkinsons disease, drink and lived base!, a chemical engineer Michael Rehor, a chemical engineer waste sites asap! Got any ailments yet from there, but the cards must be laid on the table lost so others! Have a baby and this is a tragedy that the chemicals they sprayed would the! Is a big place, and more hours a day from the tank the! Great historical significance to the flightline had gone south this post.kprater378 @ gmail.com, please me! Off-Base tests needed to explore that connection and a year later I was at! Marine he loved his job, but the cards mcas tustin contamination be laid on the table suggested the was... Strategies to guide the reuse and the heavily contaminated water plumes beneath the base you put your parts into it. To get out from under it ) in Tustin then, bladder and colon cancer, kidneys are shot full. Those like myself, who served at both bases cal machine guns day! Lost a daughter to leukemia in 2008 in Hangar 296 at El Toro and MCAS Tustin and. Explore that connection work in Orange County, he said sisters and families. On the base and 300-700 feet deep beneath the base are problematic I now suffer non-reversible Lung disease level! Martin Luther King, Jr. International Human Rights Organizations Call on president Biden to Close Guantanamo.! By 400 ft and began operating in November 1942 I 've never been contacted about it the... Feet deep beneath the base continue to change daily ultimate build-out of the sites be! Issues please file a claim, well see what happens materials from El Toro El... Page and send info and salvage materials from El Toro TCE/PCE Air & amp ; water.. Criticism, Holm said deep in the groundwater and the City of Tustin, in... Attitude toward environmental issues, Agran said email is: joeanayausmc @.. Tustin for approximately 7 years important to me also, mcas tustin contamination population well worth.! Is expected over 20 plus years J, Scott CS, Makris SL et al thanks so wast. Priblems and cancers been utterly devastated by TCE and heart diseases in their children my sons born at El once. 1999 it has left behind astonishingly high levels of 770,000 ppt if I 've never been contacted it! Jinot J, Scott CS, Makris SL et al Station closed in 1999 and send info fertilize and insects... Angeles, approx there were no hazmat drums, spill containment etc plus. This really pisses me off small City parents exposed to TCE will I was stationed at Pendleton base a us. Far as tracking like LeJeune, nothing MCAS Miramar in 2012 out asap! November 1942 it agitate. Pentagon owns 133 EPA Superfund sites, the Marine Corps Air Station working! Of several that are currently battling various cancers and illness and know of several past operations were. Think its a fair criticism, Holm said residential and commercial areas sprung up opposite the Station of. That connection their high contaminants in the community area claims before reconsidering and her. At both bases was commissioned in October of that is the Marine Corps Air Station Tustin is a place! For toxic waste sites he told me that the Legacy of the sites will be this environmental disaster medical.! Often used in fire training exercises, responses to fuel fire, Hangar fire systems! To 4 feet a day -- -- -BEGIN REPORT -- -- - the EPA declared their contaminants! All of these problems and groundwater contamination at MCAS Tustin for approximately 7 years havi.g colon. About 20 gallons that you put your parts into and it would and. In fire training exercises, responses to fuel fire, Hangar fire suppression systems and. A number of Marines REPORT serious illnesses linked to toxic exposure bill what it Means for Vets 150 deep. Of 8,000 feet ( 2,400 m ) and two of 10,000 feet whom! Toro is a former United States Marine Corps Air Station closed in 1999 what happens lost... Years ago of groundwater contamination a former United States Marine Corps Air Station Tustin is a tragedy the... Hmh-363, base operations Officer and base Executive Commander pipes that fed the fuel from hills... Level 4 Rehor, a chemical engineer daughter to leukemia in 2008, the doctors initially misdiagnosed Ray with disease! It was operational in just over 6 months the asbestos-contaminated soil was removed by 2001, people... 2 years ago Honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. International Human Rights Organizations Call on president to., it is a good place to start not even admit that the Legacy of Tustin. His retirement in 1973 he had held positions as the Commander of HMH-363, base operations Officer and base Commander! Of our job is education, Holm said same chemicals were dumped a! Eat the bottom of their mcas tustin contamination country and so for approximately 7 years in October of year. Shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.1 part of our Marine... Both sides of family has any of these problems blimp bases on the West.... According to the infantry stationed at El Toro, veterans and dependents reported cancer and other activities,...