S. Korean civic group alleges that fuel
is leaking from pipe near Camp Long
By Jim Lea, Osan bureau
chief
Two U.S. Forces Korea officials face legal action after a South Korean civic group
filed a criminal complaint over an alleged fuel leak near Camp Long, about 60 miles south
of Seoul.
The People’s Action for Reform of the Unjust SOFA filed the complaint about two
weeks ago against Lt. Gen. Daniel R. Zanini, 8th Army commanding general, and Majo. Noel
Lewke, Camp Long commander.
The complaint alleges that JP8 fuel — similar to diesel fuel — is leaking
from a pipeline that extends from Camp Long into the city of Wonju.
In the past year, the group has filed numerous complaints against the U.S. military
presence in South Korea.
USFK has yet to receive official notification of the complaint, command spokeswoman Lee
Ferguson said Wednesday.
After the complaint was filed, USFK launched an investigation and said it found no
evidence of a leak.
Lewke escorted Wonju City environmental officials on an on-site visit last week.
USFK and South Korean Environment Ministry officials will visit the site this week to
conduct a joint survey of the area where the leak allegedly is occurring.
Ferguson said the USFK investigation is continuing.
About 40 South Korea protestors erected a tent near the gate to Camp Long on Monday and
have been holding sit-in demonstrations.
A Wonju police spokesmen said about 40 riot policemen are on duty around the clock at
the protest site.
Protesters claim that leaking fuel from the pipeline has contaminated about one acre of
farmland. They also claim about a quart of fuel an hour still is leaking into the soil.
The protesters are demanding the spill be cleaned up, compensation be paid to farmers
in the area, an official apology for the incident and that Lewke be punished.
Over the past year, there have been several actual and alleged fuel leaks from U.S.
bases in South Korea.
Leaks were blamed either on aged infrastructure at the bases or on heavy rains.
USFK moved quickly to repair facilities and conduct environmental cleanup when actual
leaks were discovered.
Last year, a South Korean environmental group alleged that fuel was leaking from Camp
Eagle, a small helicopter base inside a South Korean air base in Wonju.
USFK denied that allegation and invited national and municipal environmental officials
to the camp for an on-site survey.
USFK also gave the officials an on-site briefing on an upgrade project at the
camp’s waste fuel containment system.
The Environment Ministry and Wonju officials have declined comment on the alleged Camp
Eagle leak since then, but the environmental group Green Korea United claims the leak
still is occurring.
The Wonju police spokesman said about 40 protesters from Wonju went to Seoul early
Wednesday to hold protests near Yongsan Garrison, the major U.S. headquarters site in
South Korea, and the Environment Ministry over the alleged Camp Long leak.
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