Asia-Pacific

US to conduct soil tests at Camp Carroll in S Korea

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-26 17:06

SEOUL - The US military in South Korea will use a ground-penetrating radar next week for tests of soil on Camp Carroll, the alleged burial site of the toxic defoliant Agent Orange over 30 years ago, the US Eighth Army commander, Lt. Gen. John D. Johnson said Thursday.

Related readings:  S Korea to probe alleged burial of Agent Orange

Johnson told a local radio station that officials in the US are currently talking to former soldiers to confirm the exaction location where the hazardous chemical was allegedly buried.

"As early as next week, we will have a ground-penetrating radar that we can put over that location, and we will be able to see barrels or anything else buried there," Johnson said.

He added that if there is any indication of a threat to human health, the soil will be thoroughly tested.

Allegations of chemical dumping by the US military in South Korea came to the surface after three former US Army veterans revealed last week that they had buried massive amounts of Agent Orange at Camp Carroll in Chilgok, some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, in 1978.

South Korea and the US have launched a joint investigation into the allegations.

The Eighth Army said earlier this week that a large number of drums containing pesticides, herbicides and solvents were buried at Camp Carroll in 1978 but were removed the following two years, along with 40 to 60 tonnes of soil.