In an ongoing project to promote sound chemical management in Palau, EQPB’s partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chemical experts were on island on Nov. 07 – 18, 2022 to begin the work of documenting, processing and preparing hazardous chemicals for final disposal. The U.S. EPA team included, On-Scene Coordinators Chris Reiner and Bret Moxley, out of Region 9, along with environmental contractor Bryan Chernick and Luis and partners Curtis Martin and Robert Knox arrived in Palau on October 30, 2022 and left on November 21, 2022.
This team was here in July 2022 and began an initial assessment and inventory for proper handling and disposal of hazardous chemicals that are currently on island for proper handling and disposal in November 2022. Chemicals were collected from the Belau National Hospital Pharmacy, Division of Environmental Health, EQPB laboratory, Palau Community College, Palau International Coral Reef Center, Palau High School and the PPUC Aimeliik Power Plant. These were used hazardous materials that were used in the various laboratories that were stored for proper disposal. A bulk of the chemicals were those used at the PPUC Power Plant for construction of the new generator. This team also provided additional support to the Water Treatment Plant to secure unusable chlorine that were posing a health risk to plant staff.
As part of providing technical expertise and guidance on hazardous chemicals identification, handling and storage, the USEPA also conducted a two (2) workshop/training with staff from EQPB, Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting (ARFF), City Fire and Division of Environmental Health (DEH). This training/workshop was on identification of chemicals and how to safely provide response efforts.
The Palau EQPB would like to express its gratitude to the US EPA and partners on the work performed, technical expertise and guidance provided in the handling and disposal of these chemicals.
For more information on regulations, permits, trainings, and other environment-related activities, please call EQPB at 488-1639/3600. You can also visit https://www.palaugov.pw/eqpb for more information on the nine (9) regulations EQPB is authorized to promulgate, implement and enforce.