MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, Hawaii — A battalion of individuals collected soil samples from across 3,000 feet of shoreline by the Puuloa Range Training Facility over two days, Feb. 14 to 15.

What You Need To Know

  • The 3,000-foot area was recognized as having the greatest potential for contaminants to leach into the neighboring environment

  • Over two days, soil samples were collected, cataloged, sifted and packaged for transport to an Environmental Protection Agency-certified, on-island lab for processing and analysis

  • Roughly 7,000 Hawaii-based Marines conduct Annual Rifle Qualifications at the Puuloa Range Training Facility, the only such site in the state

They included Marines and civilians from Marine Corps Base Hawaii’s Environmental Compliance and Protection Division, environmental experts from the State Department of Health Office of Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response, and scientists from the University of Hawaii and Brigham Young University-Hawaii.

Collecting samples is the first step of a sampling and analysis plan focused on assessing the shoreline perimeter of PRTF for both the presence of munition components and potential off-site migration pathways, according to a news release. The 3,000-foot area was recognized as having the greatest potential for contaminants to leach into the neighboring environment.

“We’re fortunate to have on-island experts helping us out and providing insight about how to do this right,” said Maj. Jeffry Hart, director of MCBH’s Environmental Compliance and Protection Division, in the release. “Today’s effort, and really the SAP [sampling and analysis plan], were made possible through partnership.”

Over the two days, soil samples were collected, cataloged, sifted and packaged for transport to an Environmental Protection Agency-certified, on-island lab for processing and analysis.

The effort is a result of a year’s worth of ongoing communication and collaboration with state officials, interagency partners, academia and feedback from the Ewa Beach community adjacent to the facility.

“We want to be good neighbors and we want to protect the environment. It’s a part of our mission, a part of our charter,” said Col. Jeremy Beaven, the commanding officer of the Marine Corps Base in Hawaii. “I recognize the community is also concerned about the potential effects of the range on the environment, so this plan is here and it’s fairly robust. It’s being executed to help us understand our impacts on the environment.”

Roughly 7,000 Hawaii-based Marines conduct Annual Rifle Qualifications at the Puuloa Range Training Facility, the only such site in the state. Local and federal law enforcement agencies and other military personnel from across the Joint Force also conduct small-arms marksmanship training and certification at the facility.

Sarah Yamanaka covers news and events for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.