Articles by Frank Vera

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George AFB Health Registry

T. E. H.

August 3, 2017
I was stationed at George AFB from March 1983 – Nov 1984.  I was at the Component Repair Squadron (CRS) Group of the 35th TAC Wing. I lived in the dorm across from the BX and showered and drank the water at the dorm and while at work. Played golf at the Course and ate at the Chow Hall regularly. In the early [Read More…]
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George AFB Health Registry

Kenn R. Finkelstein

July 31, 2017
I was stationed at George AFB from 1963-1965, nearly 2-years. From the onset of living in the WWII old barracks, I have watched and felt my body slowly disintegrate and cause me heavy pain, discomfort, and a loss of trust for a 17-year old Airman. I as well as so many more put our faith and trust into the Air Force’s hands to [Read More…]
Scales Of Justice
Attorneys

Law School Military & Veterans Legal Clinics

July 25, 2017
California Institute for Military Personnel, Veterans, Human Rights and International Law & AMVETS Legal Clinic Chapman University One University Drive Orange, CA 92866 714-628-2692www.chapman.edu/militaryLawInstitute Kiana Boyce, Office Coordinator [email protected] Chapman University Military Law & Policy Institute and AMVETS Legal Clinic is a free legal clinic for active duty troops and veterans. Law students handle the cases and are taught and supervised by former JAG [Read More…]
Base Realignments and Closures (BRAC) 1988
Documents

1988-12-xx DOD – Base Realignments and Closures

July 21, 2017
Air Force Base for closure primarily due to degraded training effectiveness, air traffic congestion, and because of excess capacity within the category. The net cost of closure and relocation will be paid back immediately. The Commission expects annual savings to be $70.2 million. The military value of George AFB is lower than other tactical-fighter installations due to its distance to specialized training ranges [Read More…]
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George AFB Health Registry

Karen O.

July 21, 2017
Hi, my name is Karen. I came across Frank Vera’s sites quite by accident, and I must say I was stunned by what I read. I was stationed at GAFB for just 19 months, from Sept. 1974 – May 1976. I lived in one of the barracks on base, although I don’t remember which one. I was pregnant when discharged and had a [Read More…]
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George AFB Health Registry

Terese Halsey Tice

July 17, 2017
In April 1987 the Air Force transferred my husband to George AFB in California.  I was 30 years old the mother of 3 wonderful children and life was good, or so we thought.  We were given a two story home Texas Ave where we lived until we bought our first home about 9 months later.  We played out in the yard, did somersaults, [Read More…]
Department of Defense Activities Related to Trichloroethylene, Perchlorate, and Other Emerging Contaminants
Documents

2007-07-12 GAO – Department of Defense Activities Related to Trichloroethylene, Perchlorate, and Other Emerging Contaminants

July 16, 2017
Two emerging contaminants–trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchlorate–are of particular concern to DOD because they have significant potential to impact people or DOD’s mission. TCE, a degreasing agent in metal cleaning which has been used widely in DOD industrial and maintenance processes, has been documented at low exposure levels to cause headaches and difficulty concentrating. High-level exposure may cause dizziness, headaches, nausea, unconsciousness, cancer, and possibly death.

[Read More…]

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George AFB Health Registry

Kandi W.

July 13, 2017
My name is Kandi W., I moved to George Air Force Base in 1988. My husband Brian and I lived there until 1991. Before moving on base, and we lived in Adelanto for a year and a half then moved to Victorville for a year. My husband was in the fire department and I took him dinner on the nights he was on [Read More…]
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George AFB Health Registry

Stacie C.

July 8, 2017
I was born at GAFB in 1988 and lived there til 1992. I’ve had numerous issues including endometriosis, miscarriage, complicated pregnancies and births, migraines, thyroid issues, and blood clots. Two of my children have colitis as well.
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George AFB Health Registry

Joseph Cox

July 7, 2017
My father was stationed at George Air Force Base in 1973. I’m assuming he lived in the barracks at that time. He got married and had me in 1976. We move to Germany shortly after and then moved all over from there. We moved back to Georgia Air Force Base in 1986 and we lived in temporary housing for about six months. I [Read More…]
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George AFB Health Registry

Beth Rice

July 7, 2017
We were at GAFB from 1989-1992. My husband got bladder cancer (non-smoker). My oldest daughter has had reproductive disorders. I have fibroids. Another daughter has odd skin conditions that can’t be diagnosed.
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George AFB Health Registry

G. W.

July 7, 2017
My dad B. W. was stationed at George AFB several times.  I know we were there when I was in kindergarten, then we moved to Ramstein AFB in Germany for 3 years and then back to George for the remainder of my 3rd grade and we lived at different locations over the years.  I attended both George and Shephard Elementary. I have horrible [Read More…]
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George AFB Health Registry

Don Barr

July 3, 2017
My name is Don Barr. I was stationed in CES from 1986-1989. My first wife lost a set of twins and almost died in the process. She got pregnant again, and we had a daughter with gastroschisis. Her intestines, liver, and part of her stomach were on the outside. While at Lackland getting fixed… we saw our old neighbors whose daughter LaShawn V. [Read More…]
Investigation of the George AFB Radiological Decontamination Centers
Documents

1953-06-xx CDPH – Investigation of the George AFB Radiological Decontamination Centers

July 2, 2017
According to the following documents, (Vera , 2015) (Vera , 2016) (Headquarters Field Command, Armed Force Speical Weapons Project, March ‐ June 1953), there were several instances where aircraft had flown around and through surface nuclear weapons testing zones for imagery and sample collection, and then returned back to George Air Force Base for decontamination. We could not find any documentary evidence that [Read More…]
Nuke Waste Toughens Closings
Documents

1994-09-30 News – Nuke Waste Toughens Closings

June 30, 2017
The military could run into difficulty in closing bases because a poor job was done keeping track of radioactive waste, Sen. John Glen (D-OH) said yesterday.  DOD does not know how much or what kind of radiation is contaminating American bases, according to a GAO report.  GAO examined DOD’s inventory of 420 low- level radioactive sites on military land but found some sites [Read More…]
Low-level radioactive dump discovered at George AFB
Documents

1985-09-01 News – Low-level radioactive dump discovered at George AFB

June 29, 2017
Victorville — The existence of a low-level radioactive waste dump near Victorville and the Mojave River was revealed Friday after a telephone tip from an off-road vehicle enthusiast. The dump was apparently unknown to local and county officials, but might be on a state water board list. The approximately one-acre unfenced site is located within the extreme southern boundary of George Air Force [Read More…]
What's contaminated Services can not say for sure
Documents

1994-10-16 Army Times – What’s contaminated? Services can’t say for sure

June 29, 2017
WASHINGTON – The Department of Defense is unable to clean up radioactive contamination on military bases because it doesn’t have accurate records of where the waste is, according to congressional investigators. The services have reported 420 sites with low levels of radioactive waste. But investigators from the General Accounting Office said the lists are outdated, inaccurate and incomplete because some sites have been [Read More…]
Sites Contaminated and Potentially Contaminated With Radioactivity in the United States
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1991-02-xx EPA – Sites Contaminated and Potentially Contaminated With Radioactivity in the United States

June 28, 2017
The Department of Defense (DoD) has 7463 sites in the United States and 952 sites in CA contaminated or potentially contaminated with radioactivity. THIS IS A PRELIMINARY DRAFT (Not Yet Subjected to Peer Review) 2.1.4 Department of Defense (DoD) The U.S. Department of Defense through its Departments of Army (including the Army National Guard), Navy (including the Marine Corps), and Air Force (including the Air National [Read More…]
Radioactive Waste Disposal HQ USAF SCA 71-28
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1971-01-19 AF – Radioactive Waste Disposal (HQ USAF SCA 71-28)

June 27, 2017
In 1971, George AFB was notified by HQ USAF that its radioactive waste burial sites were to be accounted for, fenced off, and clearly marked. They were not. 1. The disposition of solid radioactive waste is strictly controlled in accordance with Technical Order 00-110N-2, “Radioactive Waste Disposal.” The Technical Order provides for the San Antonio Air Material Area to act as the coordinating [Read More…]
Documents

1990-05-23 GAO – The Military Would Benefit From a Comprehensive Waste Disposal Program

June 27, 2017
Senator John Glen requested that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) examine the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s oversight of the Department of Defense’s use, handling, and disposal of radioactive material. The GAO found that no comprehensive DOD waste disposal program exists, and none of the three services knows the full extent of its low-level radioactive waste disposal problems. As a result, DOD leaves itself open [Read More…]
CERCLA §120(h) - Deed Restrictions
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1980-12-11 – CERCLA §120(h) Deed Restrictions – Special Nuclear Material

June 24, 2017
Because all activities supporting the nuclear defense program are highly classified to protect national security Congress included a provision in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) that requires the DOD to withhold information and records about Special Nuclear Material at its Superfund sites.  This requirement creates a unique set of problems for the DOD; Federal, State, and Local regulators when trying [Read More…]
Better Data Needed for Radioactively Contaminated Defense Sites - GAO
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1994-08-24 GAO – Better Data Needed For Radioactively Contaminated Defense Sites

June 24, 2017
On December 22, 1992, Senator John Glenn requested that the General Accounting Office (GAO) investigate whether the Department of Defense (DOD) has accounted for all of its radiologically contaminated sites.  The GOA found that the DOD could NOT identify the location, isotopes, or amount of radioactive material disposed of at its bases.  1994-08-24 GAO – Better Data Needed For Radioactively Contaminated Defense Sites (PDF, [Read More…]
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FOIA Components

FOIA Public-Interest and Media Fee Waivers

June 14, 2017
FOIA Fee Waiver Request FOIA mandates a waiver or reduction of fees associated with a request if “disclosure of the information is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations or activities of the government and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester.” 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(4)(A)(iii). The former Victorville Army [Read More…]
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News Feeds

Vapor Intrusion – DOD – News

April 11, 2017
Tetra Tech Supports the U.S. Navy on Multi-Award-Winning Remediation Project 3BL Media (press release)-Wednesday, April 19, 2017 Tetra Tech supported the Navy by providing a state-of-the-art vapor intrusion mitigation system to ensure indoor air contamination was reduced … The Toxic Homefront: As Marine Families Fall Ill, Some Are Accusing the Corps Of Negligence Task & Purpose-April 19, 2017 Brletich, the son of retired [Read More…]