Department of Defense Hazardous Waste Site Remediation Issues in the Republic of Korea

The purpose of this research was to provide information to DoD decision makers regarding factors influencing hazardous waste site remediation policy for South Korea. This study addressed: International agreements and U.S. and South Korean laws and policies relevant to hazardous waste sites; objectives of DoD environmental policy makers; extent and effects of soil and groundwater contamination; cleanup precedents set in other foreign countries; availability of resources and technical capabilities to investigate and remediate hazardous waste sites in South Korea; and opportunities for cooperation between the U.S. and South Korean military with regard to hazardous waste site remediation. Data were collected and compared using triangulation methodology. This research resulted in identification of multiple factors which have an impact on promulgation of DoD hazardous waste site remediation policy for South Korea to include: (1) human health risk; (2) Congressional support for remedial actions overseas; (3) cleanup precedents set in other foreign countries; (4) Korean and U.S. perceptions; (5) Korean environmental law; and, (6) impact of contaminated sites on wartime capabilities. More study is required to assess the influence each issue has on DoD hazardous waste site remediation policy for Korea based on the values of policy makers.Air Force Inst of Tech Wright-Patterson AFB OH is the author of 'Department of Defense Hazardous Waste Site Remediation Issues in the Republic of Korea', published 1997 under ISBN 9781423568575 and ISBN 1423568575.