Articles by Frank Vera

Toxic soldiers: A Portland woman among thousands of Army vets … Street Roots News-Dec 18, 2014 Oregon hosts only one of the DoD Superfund sites: Umatilla Army Depot in Hermiston. The depot was placed on the list in the mid 1980s, and … Toxic Trash Contamination on US Military Bases Center for Research on Globalization-Dec 8, 2014 Some producing virtual permanent contamination. … [Read More…]

McClellan Air Force Base – News

Pentagon puts budget concerns ahead of Fort McClellan troops’ welfare The Pentagon doesn’t want to spend the money to alert hundreds of thousands of soldiers who served at a once-contaminated Army base that they may have been exposed to toxins. “The cost of attempting to identify all these individuals, including the cost of media advertising, would be a significant burden on the Army’s [Read More…]

Hunters Point Naval Shipyard – News

Contractor Submitted False Radiation Data at Hunters Point NBC Bay Area-Oct 13, 2014Share … with cleaning radioactive soil at the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in … from a nuclear research lab that included radiation experiments and … Former Contractors Claim Hunters Point Cleanup is Botched NBC Bay Area-May 19, 2014 Radiation safety personnel who worked on the toxic cleanup of the Hunters Point [Read More…]

Alameda Naval Air Station – News

Treasure Island cleanup exposes Navy’s mishandling of its nuclear … Center For Investigative Reporting-Feb 25, 2014 “We found radiation, contaminated materials, in playgrounds and in areas that had … At the former Alameda Naval Air Station in the East Bay, plans ….. Cesium-137 is a radioactive byproduct of nuclear fission that is easily . African American Worker Blew the Whistle on Treasure Island [Read More…]

Kansas Army Ammunition Plant (KSAAP) – Pesticides

December 31, 2014

“It is the EPA’s decision that the pesticides are no longer protected under “intended use” when the structures are demolished or are to be demolished. Because of this, the chemical’s “intended use” is no longer applicable, and the pesticides become ”solid waste” and subject to RCRA Section 1004(27).” Mathy Stanislaus, US EPA, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) Department [Read More…]

George AFB’s Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP)

December 15, 2014

Victorville Army Airfield / George Air Force Base (AFB) used organochlorine pesticides, before they were banned, to protect its buildings against termites and other pests. The following pesticides and their breakdown products were detected under and around the George AFB Family Housing: aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, and lindane. The levels of aldrin, dieldrin, and chlordane and their breakdown products were so [Read More…]

FOIA Appeal AF – Public Interest and/or News Media Fee Waiver

December 5, 2014

I request a Public Interest Fee Waiver for each of the aforementioned FOIA requests since disclosure of the [requested] information is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to the public’s understanding of the operations or activities of the government and I have NO commercial interest in the requested information, as defined in DOD5400.7-R_AFMAN 33-302 § C6.1.4.1. […]

Oaths of Office / Enlistment

November 30, 2014

The Commissioning Oath “I, _____ , having been appointed an officer in the (Service) of the United States, as indicated above in the grade of _____ do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation [Read More…]

Honorable Barbara Boxer United States Senator

Contact Barbara Boxer, United States Senator

November 30, 2014

This is my letter to Barbara Boxer, United States Senator, requesting help with getting records released about the nature and extent of the contamination, and the base personnel’s exposure to the environmental contamination at the former George AFB. Over fifty thousand people may have been exposed to hazardous chemicals at the former George Air Force Base, CA, “EPA Superfund ID: CA2570024453″ and surrounding community. We [Read More…]

USS Reagan – Fukushima Radiation – News

November 26, 2014

Judge: Sailors’ class-action suit can proceed over alleged radiation … Stars and Stripes-Oct 30, 2014 Judge: Sailors’ class-action suit can proceed over alleged radiation … for a variety of ailments from radiation exposure following a nuclear … Two US Sailors Dead After Fukushima Radiation Exposure Center for Research on Globalization-4 hours ago Proper medical care for the victims of radiation exposure [is needed, [Read More…]

George Washington

November 15, 2014

“The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional as to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.”

George Washington, 1789

1990-91 – OSI Investigation of CBRN Contamination at George AFB

November 13, 2014

The Air Force refused to release the 1990–91 Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AF OSI) investigation of the environmental contamination at George AFB. The Air Force responded to a FOIA stating that were no responsive records despite being given a statement of facts from the investigating OSI Special Agent.

Presidential Memorandum – FOIA Request

Presidential Memorandum For Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies “The Government should not keep information confidential merely because public officials might be embarrassed by disclosure, because errors and failures might be revealed, or because of speculative or abstract fears. Nondisclosure should never be based on an effort to protect the personal interests of Government officials at the expense of those they are supposed [Read More…]

Record Search – FOIA Request

Record Search When processing this request, please note that the D.C. Circuit has previously held that agencies have a duty to construe the subject material of FOIA requests liberally to ensure responsive records are not overlooked. See Nation Magazine, Washington Bureau v. U.S. Customs Service, 71 F.3d 885, 890 (D.C. Cir. 1995). In line with the guidance issued by the Department of Justice [Read More…]

Definition of Record – FOIA Request

Definition of Record The term “record” includes, but is not limited to: 1) all email communications to or from any individual within your agency; 2) memoranda; 3) inter-agency communications; 4) sound recordings; 5) tape recordings; 6) video or film recordings; 7) photographs; 8) notes; 9) notebooks; 10) indices; 11) jottings; 12) message slips; 13) letters or correspondence; 14) telexes; 15) telegrams; 16) facsimile [Read More…]

Preservation of Records – FOIA Request

Preservation of Records Please ensure that, in accordance with the DC Circuit’s ruling in Chambers v. Dep’t of the Interior, 568 F.3d 998 (D.C. Cir. 2009), all records potentially responsive to this FOIA request are immediately preserved from destruction until the final resolution of this FOIA action. Destruction of potentially responsive records after the receipt of a FOIA request is considered “contumacious conduct” [Read More…]

Redaction – FOIA Request

Redaction In excising material, please “black out” rather than “white out” or “cut out.” Additionally, any reasonably segregable portion of a responsive record must be provided to me after redaction of any allegedly exempt material, as the law requires. 5 U.S.C. § 552(b). If this request is denied, in full or in part, please cite the exemptions pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552(b) [Read More…]

Melissa Hensley

October 8, 2014

My name is Melissa Hensley my mother was stationed at George AFB in 1980-1983 so was my father. We lived in Victorville. My mom was a jet engine mechanic she was around trichloroethylene (TCE) so was my father. My mother was diagnosed in 1981 with endometriosis and by God’s amazing grace got pregnant with me. She worked the line until she was 7 months pregnant [Read More…]

No Fees If Time Limit Is Violated – FOIA Request

October 6, 2014

According to 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(4)(A)(viii), an agency shall not assess search fees if the agency fails to comply with time limits allowed under the Freedom of Information Act. (a)(4)(A)(viii) An agency shall not assess search fees (or in the case of a requester described under clause (ii)(II), duplication fees) under this subparagraph if the agency fails to comply with any time limit under [Read More…]

2014-10-05 FOIA – Autopsy Reports & Results for the Air Force personnel and family members who expired at George AFB

October 6, 2014

The high rates of infant mortality, birth defects, cancer, autoimmune disorders, and sterility at the former George Air Force Base, CA, “EPA Superfund ID: CA2570024453,″ may have been caused in part by Aldrin, Dieldrin, other pesticides, daughter products, and/or metabolites. Because of the release of the 4 February 2004, letter from Phillip H. Mook, Air Force Regional Environmental Coordinator, we […]

2014-10-05 FOIA – Findings and Recommended Disposition of USAF Physical Evaluation Board

October 6, 2014

Because of the well-documented health problems associated with the exposure to TCE, PCE, benzene, their daughter products, and/or metabolites, and the need to determine if a Completed Exposure Pathway (CEP) existed to the former George Air Force Base personnel, I am requesting the complete printout or export of AF Form 356 “Findings and Recommended Disposition of USAF Physical […]

Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC)

Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) – radioactive material (RAM)

October 1, 2014

Fourteen of the forty Air Force bases that were closed and transferred or are in the process of being transferred to the public are potentially contaminated with highly classified 91 (b) radioactive material (RAM), and seven are in CA. Forty-six Air Force bases reported having radioactive disposal sites and nine of these Air Force bases were former Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) sites. “Burial [Read More…]

Is George AFB the Air Force’s Camp Lejeune?

August 23, 2014

Is the former George Air Force Base, CA, “EPA Superfund ID: CA2570024453, ″ the Air Force’s Camp Lejeune? Yes! Some people have asked why it is taking so long to get help for the families of George AFB. At some point, senior management within the DOD made a decision that it was more important to cover up the problem at its contaminated bases than [Read More…]

George AFB’s CERCLA §120(h) Deed Restrictions

August 18, 2014

The Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board recently released the “Deed Restrictions” for George Air Force Base that are required by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) §120(h). Because of these CERCLA §120(h) Deed Restrictions, we now know that there were numerous Potential Exposure Pathways to the George AFB personnel, their families, civilian employees, and the surrounding community. The contaminated buildings, [Read More…]

Get help for others and myself

August 18, 2014

I was stationed at George AFB and I think that my health problems are connected to the toxic contamination at George Air Force Base, CA, “EPA Superfund ID: CA2570024453.″ Request a complete and unredacted copy, printout, or export of your military personnel; inpatient, outpatient, dental, and mental health medical records from the National Personnel Records Center […]

Bridgette Smith

August 17, 2014

My name is Bridgette Smith, and my father was stationed at George AFB from 1983- 1991. We moved to Wyoming Ct, off of the flight line, when I was 5 and moved off base when I was 12. As a child, I had constant colds and pneumonia. At 16, I was diagnosed with Coxsackie Virus, which no one had ever heard of. I [Read More…]

epidemiological environmental health surveys at majcoms

1991-xx-xx – George AFB’s Missing Completed Exposure Pathways Assessment

August 11, 2014

The Air Force refused to release the pre-1991 epidemiological, environmental, and health investigations conducted at George AFB that were requested under FOIA. These studies may be the result of Congressman Brown’s 1990 request to Major General Burton R. Moore to investigate the radioactive contamination at George AFB.