Sasebo city confronts Navy about ammo disposal

Sasebo city confronts Navy about ammo disposal
Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Monday, November 10, 2008

The city of Sasebo, Japan, has urged Sasebo Naval Base to take measures to prevent another incident like the one reported Friday, in which a U.S. sailor dumped thousands of rounds of ammunition into waters around the U.S. Navy base, the Japanese newspaper Nishinippon Shimbun reported Saturday.

The city submitted a letter of request Friday expressing concern that the incident destroyed residents’ trust in the U.S. military and fear that it could cast a shadow on the established relationship between the city and base, the Kyushu area newspaper reported.

Navy officials said Friday a second class petty officer, whose name was not released, admitted dumping ammunition packed inside garbage bags on Oct. 27 in restricted waters around Hario-shima, Maebata ordnance facility and Akasaki fuel pier. The officials said 3,000 rounds of shotgun shells and 335 rounds of 5.56 mm ammunition for M-16 rifles were found. They said all the rifle rounds were recovered, and they believe all the shotgun shells have been found but are maintaining an ongoing search.

The sailor has been reassigned until the investigation is concluded.



Article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=58722