Overview
- Okinawa’s four requests since 2016 to enter Kadena, Futenma and Camp Hansen were formally refused, Japan’s Defense Ministry announced on December 19.
- The U.S. response cited the absence of clear sample data proving the facilities are the source and a lack of mutually agreed standards to evaluate results, adding that some proposed sampling sites were not precisely identified.
- U.S. Forces Japan indicated it could revisit the decision if Okinawa presents new scientific evidence or if a narrowly scoped review addresses drinking-water safety under agreed conditions.
- Prefectural surveys have reported persistent exceedances near bases, including 30 of 44 sites above provisional targets in winter 2022 and a reading of about 1,800 ng/L near Kadena.
- Governor Denny Tamaki said the prefecture will seek to provide scientific grounds, while civic groups criticized the demand for on-base evidence as contradictory; the U.S. says PFAS foams were replaced at Japan facilities by October 2024.