Military probe turns up no trace of suspected Agent Orange barrels at New Brunswick base
'I did my duty ... I know what I saw,' says retired sergeant who reported seeing the barrels
An investigation into a report that
barrels of the toxic defoliant Agent Orange may have been
surreptitiously buried at a New Brunswick military base has apparently
come up empty.
National Defence looked into a claim made by a former military police officer, retired sergeant Al White, that he witnessed the disposal of chemical barrels in 1985 at a location near the training range at Base Gagetown.
He led senior members of the department's environment branch in late June to the precise spot off one of the base's main roads.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the department said it conducted an aerial survey and followed up with ground sensors and a limited dig. It detected nothing metallic.
"There was no indication of a potential barrel disposal site in the area indicated by Mr. White during his visit," said spokesman Dan Le Bouthillier in an email response. "No drums were found."
The findings are preliminary and a final report is expected in November.
Officials said they took the former police officer's claims seriously.
"To ensure an exhaustive search is completed, the ground survey was expanded by several hundred metres beyond the area identified by Mr. White, and included several target digs on areas flagged for subsurface target investigation," said Le Bouthillier.
"Precautionary hand digging continued on other targets beyond the area identified by Mr. White, but there has, to date, been no drums found at the sites searched."
Investigators did find a discarded ammunition box, a metal spike and other debris.
White
claims he escorted a flatbed truck loaded with chemical barrels to a
point near the base's tank training range 33-years ago and that the
barrels were buried in a large hole near an area known as the Shirley
Road dump.
It all happened before sunrise and White said he'd always found the incident suspicious. He kept silent, however, until he lost three friends — all former Gagetown soldiers — to cancer.
While DND officials said they were confident in White's recollection, they disputed the core of his claim — that barrels buried at the site may have contained Agent Orange.
The base was used by the U.S. military in two separate sets of aerial Agent Orange spraying tests in the late 1960s. Concerns over potential health effects prompted the federal government to initiate a compensation program about a dozen years ago.
The defoliant, which was widely used during the Vietnam war, has been linked to various cancers by health experts.
There are four known burial sites at Gagetown containing drums of various chemicals, even asbestos waste.
Those sites — some near wetlands — are capped with fresh soil and monitored for contaminated runoff.
Including White's allegation, National Defence has investigated a dozen suspected, unregistered burial sites over the years. None of them have turned up signs of barrels or contamination.
White said he's disappointed by the findings and he stands by his recollection.
During White's visit to the base to locate the site, officials noted that vegetation growth was stunted in the area he identified.
"Who knows what could have happened in the last 30 years?" White said Tuesday. "I feel I did my duty by coming forward. I know what I saw."
The investigation served to remind the public about the legacy of herbicide spraying, which has for decades been a major environmental issue in New Brunswick.
National Defence looked into a claim made by a former military police officer, retired sergeant Al White, that he witnessed the disposal of chemical barrels in 1985 at a location near the training range at Base Gagetown.
He led senior members of the department's environment branch in late June to the precise spot off one of the base's main roads.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the department said it conducted an aerial survey and followed up with ground sensors and a limited dig. It detected nothing metallic.
"There was no indication of a potential barrel disposal site in the area indicated by Mr. White during his visit," said spokesman Dan Le Bouthillier in an email response. "No drums were found."
The findings are preliminary and a final report is expected in November.
An 'exhaustive search'
Officials said they took the former police officer's claims seriously.
"To ensure an exhaustive search is completed, the ground survey was expanded by several hundred metres beyond the area identified by Mr. White, and included several target digs on areas flagged for subsurface target investigation," said Le Bouthillier.
"Precautionary hand digging continued on other targets beyond the area identified by Mr. White, but there has, to date, been no drums found at the sites searched."
Investigators did find a discarded ammunition box, a metal spike and other debris.
It all happened before sunrise and White said he'd always found the incident suspicious. He kept silent, however, until he lost three friends — all former Gagetown soldiers — to cancer.
While DND officials said they were confident in White's recollection, they disputed the core of his claim — that barrels buried at the site may have contained Agent Orange.
The base was used by the U.S. military in two separate sets of aerial Agent Orange spraying tests in the late 1960s. Concerns over potential health effects prompted the federal government to initiate a compensation program about a dozen years ago.
The defoliant, which was widely used during the Vietnam war, has been linked to various cancers by health experts.
Toxic legacy
There are four known burial sites at Gagetown containing drums of various chemicals, even asbestos waste.
Those sites — some near wetlands — are capped with fresh soil and monitored for contaminated runoff.
Including White's allegation, National Defence has investigated a dozen suspected, unregistered burial sites over the years. None of them have turned up signs of barrels or contamination.
White said he's disappointed by the findings and he stands by his recollection.
During White's visit to the base to locate the site, officials noted that vegetation growth was stunted in the area he identified.
"Who knows what could have happened in the last 30 years?" White said Tuesday. "I feel I did my duty by coming forward. I know what I saw."
The investigation served to remind the public about the legacy of herbicide spraying, which has for decades been a major environmental issue in New Brunswick.
About the Author
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos
I know for a fact there are lots of decent folks still alive who can still recall how wonderful the woods and streams of New Brunswick were before we began to suffer the expropriation of land for the creation of Base Gagetown and the Mactaquac Dam. The use of Monsanto's chemical weapons for the benefit of the military and the Irving Clan and NB Power really rubbed salt into the wounds as that crap cam raining down on us as well. In a nutshell if you are not upset by this article then you are not paying attention. Furthermore the jokes within the comment section are flat out offensive.
Methinks many politicians are familiar with this story that appeared in the Kings County Record June 22, 2004 N'esy Pas?
The Unconventional Candidate
By Gisele McKnight
"FUNDY—He has a pack of cigarettes in his shirt pocket, a chain on his wallet, a beard at least a foot long, 60 motorcycles and a cell phone that rings to the tune of "Yankee Doodle."
Meet the latest addition to the Fundy ballot—David Amos. The independent candidate lives in Milton, Massachusetts with his wife and two children, but his place of residence does not stop him from running for office in Canada."
"Amos, 52, is running for political office because of his dissatisfaction with politicians. "I've become aware of much corruption involving our two countries," he said. "The only way to fix corruption is in the political forum."
"What he's fighting for is the discussion of issues – tainted blood, the exploitation of the Maritimes' gas and oil reserves and NAFTA, to name a few.
"The political issues in the Maritimes involve the three Fs – fishing, farming and forestry, but they forget foreign issues," he said. "I'm death on NAFTA, the back room deals and free trade. I say chuck it (NAFTA) out the window
NAFTA is the North American Free Trade Agreement which allows an easier flow of goods between Canada, the United States and Mexico."
Barney Miller
The guy came off as a
crackpot from the outset....makes me wonder why CBC keeps repeating his
B.S. story....must be related to an editor or something.
David Amos
@Barney Miller Methinks you
are one whose motives and BS should be questioned I doubt anyone
believes that is your real name N'esy Pas?
Greg Starkey
Conspiracy theories about a
"big cover-up", pun intended bother me. It's a fact that defoliants were
used in Gagetown many years ago. I did my basic infantry training there
in the early 70's and there were tracts that were barren of greenery
due to the use of defoliants. Contrary to comments here, that wasn't
illegal nor would I suspect that burying used or full barrels in that
period be illegal either. What I do take exception to is there being any
intentional coverup of the findings of an investigation or that the
military cannot be trusted to conduct the investigation itself. Having
worked in the Base Operations Branch in the mid to late 90's, I can say
with authority that the Base Enviro O had a clear mandate to protect the
environment integrity of the training area as much as possible given
the exigencies of military training. At the very least, every attempt
was made to mitigate any environmental damage done to the training area.
If any Armchair enviro warriers have conclusive evidence to the
contrary, please speak up.
David Amos
@Greg Starkey "Contrary to
comments here, that wasn't illegal nor would I suspect that burying used
or full barrels in that period be illegal either. What I do take
exception to is there being any intentional coverup of the findings of
an investigation or that the military cannot be trusted to conduct the
investigation itself."
Well Put Sir
FYI Google David Amos Federal Court
then scroll down to statement 83
Well Put Sir
FYI Google David Amos Federal Court
then scroll down to statement 83
David Amos
@Greg Starkey True
FYI in 1982 I recall that the government was spraying Agent Orange legally in the Sussex area. In fact I saved the clipping from the newspaper and posted it on the Internet.
FYI in 1982 I recall that the government was spraying Agent Orange legally in the Sussex area. In fact I saved the clipping from the newspaper and posted it on the Internet.
Shawn McShane
@David Amos AO was federally
banned in 1985, Al White said he witnessed the disposal of chemical
barrels in 1985. One of the comments said around 1988-1989 one of his
Techs was required to report to the MIR for a blood test then was
transported to the training area and photographed a mound of barrels
that had been dug up. They probably got rid of the barrels then. Is
the case closed? Maybe.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/agent-orange-widely-used-in-ont-1.1048075
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/agent-orange-widely-used-in-ont-1.1048075
David Amos
@Shawn McShane "Is the case closed? "
Nope. Obviously I am not done yet
Nope. Obviously I am not done yet
Kevin Lacroix
Wonder what kind of airborne
survey was done? There are a few excellent UXO firms out there that
utilize multiple magnetic squid sensors mounted on helicopters in order
to detect small objects like barrels or land mines even using high
sensitivity gradient magnetics. These sensors would allow a depth
calculation as well.
This notion of a "hand dig" is ludicrous. The barrels will be at least 20-30ft , say 6-10m underground. Not going to be an easy dig.
This notion of a "hand dig" is ludicrous. The barrels will be at least 20-30ft , say 6-10m underground. Not going to be an easy dig.
David Amos
@Kevin Lacroix Methinks the
Feds know that I heard many other barrels were buried in a much
different fashion and in a different location as well N'esy Pas?
Bob Baker
Used equipment, Poor handling
of veteran affair files, political climate of pacifism that shames
militaries existence as non-essential.
I bow my head in shame.
I bow my head in shame.
David Amos
@Bob Baker We all should
Shawn McShane
Agent Orange curse: Vietnam
vets can pass birth defects to their kids, new data suggests... a team
of researchers embarked on a $143 million, 20-year study and found “a
statistically significant increase in reported birth defects” among
veterans who handled Agent Orange.
Air Force published a follow-up paper that claimed no evidence had been found linking Agent Orange exposure to birth defects.
Air Force published a follow-up paper that claimed no evidence had been found linking Agent Orange exposure to birth defects.
David Amos
@Shawn McShane Methjnks some
folks must remember when our government was spraying Agent Orange all
over New Brunswick in the early 1980s N'esy Pas?
Paul Bourgoin
What about BUD-WORM CITY in northern New Brunswick, where are those barrels?
What about Agent Orange, DDT, Metacil, Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT) to name a few?
The public exposure during these periods should reveal the wanted facts on consequences to public exposures to the pesticide mixers, pilots, airstrip workers, bystanders, woodworkers, fishermen, and others inadvertently present in the spray blocks and the distant populace exposed to long range drifts of the toxic spray clouds if not, one has to ask himself WHY??!
What about Agent Orange, DDT, Metacil, Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT) to name a few?
The public exposure during these periods should reveal the wanted facts on consequences to public exposures to the pesticide mixers, pilots, airstrip workers, bystanders, woodworkers, fishermen, and others inadvertently present in the spray blocks and the distant populace exposed to long range drifts of the toxic spray clouds if not, one has to ask himself WHY??!
David Amos
@Paul Bourgoin Well Put Sir
eddy watts
Am I reading this correctly?
The Canadian military who is alleged to have illegally participated in
haphazardly disposing, what is known to be a very toxic (to humans and
animals, and vegetation) substance....and will pay a very serious
"price" if found to have done so IS HANDLING THE INVESTIGATION?????????
Naaaaa the world hasn't gotten that screwy yet, has it?
David Amos
@eddy watts Its only the tip of the Iceberg
John Hallberg
It's in my fins and gills man!!!
David Amos
@John Hallberg How is this even remotely funny?
Steve Whitaker
He's in the White House.
David Amos
@Steve Whitaker That joke was old before you posted it
Peter Glennie
Radio Shack metal detector?
David Amos
@Peter Glennie Naw they were to good for the job.
Derek Knight
Trade Agent Orange to MI-6 for Maxwell Smart.
David Amos
@Derek Knight Same old joke different words tis all
Kath Ayres
"It all happened before sunrise ... "
and the evidence was probably removed years later at the same time of day.
and the evidence was probably removed years later at the same time of day.
David Amos
@Kath Ayres Of that I have no doubt
Richard Dekkar
Oh dear, another "reliable" memory. As we've seen recently, there is no proof.
David Amos
@Richard Dekkar Your point is?
Miles Hawkeye7
What a waste of gov't and CBC time... not unusual of course. Please continue censoring the real issues please.
David Amos
@Miles Hawkeye7 This is a VERY real issue to a lot of ghosts and their kin in New Brunswick
Derek Knight
Could be used for deforestations in BC like was the case in Vietnam.
Then guerilla softwood tarrifs against the USA could be removed in this place.
Then guerilla softwood tarrifs against the USA could be removed in this place.
David Amos
@Derek Knight Not funny
Derek Knight
Equip me with a badge and I face this foreign agent!
Content disabled.
David Amos
@Derek Knight Ethical people don't need any stinking badges
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqomZQMZQCQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqomZQMZQCQ
David Amos
@Derek Knight Ethical people don't need badges They need to know how to write lawsuits
Shane (Wei) Walsh
Probably a VERY good idea to
find and de-toxificate these agents. You never know what the affections
could be if the gasses was released. Remember the film "Return of the
Living Dead"? Yes - US Army barrels released the agent gasses and
created zombies of the dead. Just throwing that out there for
considertations.
David Amos
@Shane (Wei) Walsh You should have kept that thought to yourself
Chris Waddell
Well no wonder they didn't find them, the article says, "but there has, to date, been no drums found at the sites searched."
Of course no one buried a 'drum' set out there... They should have been looking for barrels!!
Of course no one buried a 'drum' set out there... They should have been looking for barrels!!
Michael Brown
@Chris Waddell Drum: "a cylindrical container
specifically : a large usually metal container for liquids //a 55-gallon drum"
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drum
specifically : a large usually metal container for liquids //a 55-gallon drum"
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drum
David Amos
@Michael Brown Aren't you a wiseguy?
Mike White
Good, no problem.
David Amos
@Mike White For you maybe
David James
Well folks, give the MP Sergeant full credit for making the effort.
Colin Seeley
@David James
The topic is one of CBC ideology therefore it got news.
CBC needs to apologize. Fake news.
The topic is one of CBC ideology therefore it got news.
CBC needs to apologize. Fake news.
David Amos
@David James I do
David Amos
@Colin Seeley CBC needs to apologize. Fake news.
YUP
YUP
Grant Silliker
I was a Pht Tech in Gagetown from 87-92.
Around 1988-1989 one of our Techs was required to report to the MIR for a blood test
He was then transported to the training area and photographed a mound of barrels that had been dug up.
I recall seeing photos of the dug up barrels being printed prior to being sent off to the requested party.
I'm unaware what the contents of the barrels contained. We did have a sign on the door restricting access to only authorized personnel.
Around 1988-1989 one of our Techs was required to report to the MIR for a blood test
He was then transported to the training area and photographed a mound of barrels that had been dug up.
I recall seeing photos of the dug up barrels being printed prior to being sent off to the requested party.
I'm unaware what the contents of the barrels contained. We did have a sign on the door restricting access to only authorized personnel.
David Amos
@Grant Silliker Good for you for speaking up
Joseph Cluster
They looked, couldn't find anything, of coarse we believe you. Wink-wink.
Colin Seeley
@Joseph Cluster
Yes we do now. Your ideology is your weakness.
Yes we do now. Your ideology is your weakness.
David Amos
@Colin Seeley Nope its yours
Scott Stone
Maybe the barrels rusted away to nothing, and leaked whatever was in them into the groundwater. It's gone now.
David Amos
@Scott Stone Maybe they are still thee
David Amos
@David Amos there
Robert Anderson
And some just like tilting at windmills...
David Amos
@Robert Anderson I know I do
Jim Palmer
Looking for 'Agent Orange' ? Check the White House.
Colin Seeley
@Jim Palmer
Lol. Best one today.
Lol. Best one today.
Jim Palmer
@Colin Seeley
Why thank you, Colin.
I try.
Why thank you, Colin.
I try.
David Amos
@Jim Palmer Methinks thats an old joke N'esy Pas?
Jim Palmer
@David Amos
MEthinks me don't care.
Apparently neither does Colin. And at least one other person.
MEthinks me don't care.
Apparently neither does Colin. And at least one other person.
David Amos
@Jim Palmer C'est Vrai.
Methinks that fact was blatantly obvious long ago N'esy Pas?
Methinks that fact was blatantly obvious long ago N'esy Pas?
Lieschen Mueller
Better to have investigated this and actually, it is a good thing that no buried barrels of Agent Orange were found.
Colin Seeley
@Lieschen Mueller
Did we need to tel CBC the accusation first.
Did we need to tel CBC the accusation first.
@Lieschen Mueller How so?
Margaret Lambert
I believe he saw something he perceived as dangerous and reported it. May have been removed years ago. We'll never know.
David Amos
@Margaret Lambert I agree
Rod davis
Sure sure.. largest training area in the commonwealth... should read can’t find them
David Amos
@Rod davis It should read The Crown doesn't want to get sued
Jeff Laidlaw
Better safe than sorry. Glad they investigated it regardless.
David Amos
@Jeff Laidlaw Methinks that should be IF they truly investigated N'esy Pas?
Tom Jones
Did you really think that
they would admit to finding anything when they conducted their own
search, in secret, "behind closed doors" ?
Colin Seeley
@Tom Jones
You will never accept the others views. Just your own views count.
Hard to take folks like you.
You will never accept the others views. Just your own views count.
Hard to take folks like you.
David Amos
@Colin Seeley Methinks the same could be said of you N'esy Pas?
Michael Brown
@David Amos Given Colin Seeley is apparently accepting someone else's view, I doubt it.
And what is this 'N'esy Pas" nonsense? Proving your ignorance of French?
And what is this 'N'esy Pas" nonsense? Proving your ignorance of French?
David Amos
@Michael Brown "what is this 'N'esy Pas" nonsense?"
Methinks it has proven to be a great way to figure out who my political foes are N'esy Pas?
Methinks it has proven to be a great way to figure out who my political foes are N'esy Pas?
Leigh O'Brien
@David Amos Not at all. It's just nonsense, like Michael says.
David Amos
@Leigh O'Brien So you say EH?
David Amos
@David Amos Merhinks you are still upset that I sued your beloved Irsh Catholic Cardinal in Beantown N'esy Pas?
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