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Bush Wars Title: America Leaves Iraq A Toxic Legacy Of Dumped Hazardous Materials Oliver August, Baghdad American troops going home from Iraq after seven painful years are leaving behind a legacy that is literally toxic. An investigation by The Times in five Iraqi provinces has found that hazardous material from US bases is being dumped locally rather than sent back to America, in clear breach of Pentagon rules. North and west of Baghdad, engine oil is leaking from 55-gallon drums into dusty ground, open acid canisters sit within easy reach of children, and discarded batteries lie close to irrigated farmland. A 2009 Pentagon document shown to The Times by a private contractor working with US soldiers mentions “an estimated 11 million pounds [5,000 tonnes] of hazardous waste” produced by American troops. But even this figure appears to be only a partial estimate. BrigadierGeneral Kendall Cox, who is responsible for engineering and infrastructure in Iraq, told The Times yesterday that he was in the process of disposing of 14,500 tonnes of oil and soil contaminated with oil. “This has accumulated over seven years,” he said. Iraqis who have come into contact with some of the material suffer from rashes and blistering on their hands and feet. They also complain of gagging and coughing. Rats near sites where waste was dumped have died and lie next to soiled containers. Abu Saif, a Fallujah scrap dealer who handles US military surplus, lifted up his trouser legs and raised his hands to show blistered skin. “I got this when I worked on what was supposed to be American scrap metal,” he said. “I checked with a doctor and he said these are the effects of dangerous chemicals.” Private recycling companies located within American bases have allegedly mixed hazardous material with ordinary scrap and passed it on to local dealers. “By the time we see this stuff it is too late,” said Abu Saif. Several workers at his and other yards have been injured while handling supposed scrap metal. “When they poured out what’s in these jerry cans they started coughing,” another yard owner said. “Some got rashes and many quit work. So when I get this kind of material now I bury it somewhere far away.” Some of the dumped materials have labels identifying them as US military property or come with paperwork from the Department of Defence. The Times discovered a 2008 e-mail from Allied Chemical of Morristown, New Jersey, to Pentagon officials warning of hazardous effects. A printout was attached to a discarded canister of sulphuric acid, a highly corrosive liquid used in wastewater treatment. It said of the substance: “Causes severe burns to skin and lungs ... Get immediate medical attention ... Use gas mask.” As the majority of US troops depart from Iraq this year, hundreds of bases are being closed and all hazardous material is supposed to be either returned to the US by ship via the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr or recycled in specially built facilities in northern and western Iraq. Brigadier-General Stephen Lanza, the US military spokesman in Baghdad, said: “We take this issue very seriously and want to solve the problem. There is a variety of ways in which this [dumping] could have happened. We are now putting a system into place. There is a lot of catching up to do.” Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 60. engine oil is leaking from 55-gallon drums into dusty ground, Used engine oil is not a hazardous waste.
#3. To: no gnu taxes (#2) Used engine oil is not a hazardous waste. It sure is. It contains all kinds of heavy metals. I thought you said you were working some kind of environmental job.
#5. To: mininggold (#3) Except under special circumstances, used oil is not a RCRA hazardous waste.
#8. To: no gnu taxes (#5) (Edited) Except under special circumstances, used oil is not a RCRA hazardous waste. Yet everytime I have my crankcase oil drained I pay an EPA imposed fee for hazardous waste disposal. Thanks for the advice, next time I'm dumping it in the river.
#12. To: mininggold (#8) Yet everytime I have my crankcase oil drained I pay an EPA imposed fee for hazardous waste disposal. No, you dont. Used oil is not considered a hazardous waste (normally). It is required to be recycled or in some way, "managed" though.
#15. To: no gnu taxes (#12) EPA: Used motor oil is a hazardous waste.
#20. To: war (#15) You might want to read the actual Rule rather than find some informal discussion. Used oil is not a RCRA hazardous waste:
Used oil is not considered a hazardous waste. It has its own set of rules and regulations. You can view these regulations at the following Web site: http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=07263626f2333d9ecc015d8f0caf28ce&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title40/40cfr279_main_02.tpl
#29. To: no gnu taxes (#20) Where in your unlink does it state that used motor oil is not hazardous waste?
#32. To: war (#29) What that is a Rule for management of used oil. It clearly states what has to occur for used oil to be a hazardous waste (such as mixing it with hazardous waste). Given that something has to happen for it to be a hazardous waste, it is clearly not hazardous waste otherwise. But if that logic is too hard for you to follow, I'll post the link to the site I quoted earlier: Is used oil a hazardous waste? Used oil is not considered a hazardous waste. It has its own set of rules and regulations. http://www.enr.state.nc.us/html/html/faq_details2.html
#34. To: no gnu taxes (#32) (Edited) That's a state website, boy. I posted a link to the EPA in which they proclaim used MOTOR oil as a hazardous waste.
#36. To: war (#34) That's a state website, boy. And the reg it cites is the Federal reg. If it were a Fedral hazardous waste, the States would have to regulate it as such.
#37. To: no gnu taxes (#36) What site does my link go to and what does it state about used MOTOR oil?
#38. To: war (#37) http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=07263626f2333d9ecc015d8f0caf28ce&rgn=div8&view=text&node=40:26.0.1.1.9.1.47.1&idno=40 Definition of used oil is pretty broad: Used oil means any oil that has been refined from crude oil, or any synthetic oil, that has been used and as a result of such use is contaminated by physical or chemical impurities. In fact, the vast majority of used oil would be used motor oil.
#42. To: no gnu taxes (#38) (Edited) You've still linked me to nothing. And the reason it's now a big deal is because you lied...got caught...failed to admit it and have been deflecting ever since. Meanwhile here's another slap, Bitch
#44. To: war (#42) You've still linked me to nothing. And the reason it's now a big deal is because you lied...got caught...failed to admit it and have been deflecting ever since. Gawd, willy, I've often thought you were a poser, but now it's pretty obvious. Have you ever gone to a company site and had to classify waste for RCRA? You think that's the same thing as household outreach programs? I linked you to the actual rules and you don't have the actual ability to read and interpret them. I've presented to you as fact that used oil is not hazardous waste (as classified by the EPA hint: that was you're official out, but you're too dense too realize it) and you ignore it. I'm going to save this thread and later present it to other consultants so we can laugh at the other other dumbasses that exist out there.
#45. To: no gnu taxes (#44) (Edited) You just cannot control yourself can you, RuntBoy? You get your ass kicked every time that you engage me. You'd ***think*** you'd have learned by now. I've provided you with two links direct to the EPA website classifying used motor oil as HW. You can't even post a link. And why would you ***think*** that I would give even a fleeting care to a) whom you associate and b) what you choose to laugh about. Make sure you show your butt buddies this while you're laughing: WHAT IS HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE? If you walk around your garage, kitchen, bathroom, or workshop, you'll probably find hazardous materials or products you and your family use every day. Hazardous materials that can no longer be used become household hazardous waste (HHW). HHW includes hazardous materials such as household cleaners, paints, paint thinners, motor oils, gasoline, and pesticides. HHW may pose a threat to human health or the environment if it is not disposed of properly.
#49. To: war (#45) war,
I don't know you but I feel sorry for you. You have obviously done many internet searches at this point and know you are wrong, yet you still continue on this quixotic path?
#51. To: no gnu taxes (#49) Chuckles...why is the EPA calling it hazardous waste, Paddy? You've deflected that question every time that it has been asked. Every time...
#52. To: war (#51) Chuckles...why is the EPA calling it hazardous waste, They aren't. You have no idea of the difference between an informal public policy release and official Rules.
#59. To: no gnu taxes (#52) Can I dump used motor oil down my sink?
#60. To: war (#59) You are boring me. Used oil is defined as "any oil that has been refined from crude oil, or any synthetic oil, that has been used and as a result of such use is contaminated by physical or chemical impurities" (40 CFR 279.1). Used oil is currently not classified as either a hazardous waste or a universal waste, but is subject to the federal requirements under 40 CFR 279.
Replies to Comment # 60. Can I dump used motor oil down my sink?
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