Navy Takes Blame for Medical Flotsam

The Navy is acknowledging responsibility for some medical waste that washed ashore in San Diego County last month, Sen. Pete Wilson’s office said Wednesday in Washington.

“The Navy has said the investigation is continuing, and the senator expects information later on,” said Amy Piskura, a spokeswoman in Wilson’s office.

Ball’s letter made no mention of chemical vials found on Orange County beaches, although Wilson specifically asked for the Navy to account for the items found in both San Diego and Orange counties.

Piskura said Wednesday that the Navy will probably have a report on the chemicals found in Orange County “in follow-up correspondence to Sen. Wilson.”

Wilson (R-Calif.) demanded a Navy investigation shortly after military-issue medical waste items washed up in the two counties in early November.

Wilson on Wednesday released a copy of the letter he received this week from Navy Secretary William L. Ball III about the investigation.

Ball’s letter said a discarded prescription bottle and a first-aid bag found on San Diego County beaches have been traced to the Navy, but it said nothing about the 70 vials of chemicals that washed up in Orange County on Nov. 14.

Ball’s letter said: “In order to facilitate tracking of wastes, the Navy is cooperating with public health offices in San Diego to assist local officials in determining the origin of supplies or wastes, and will apprise you of the results of these cooperative efforts.”

He also said strict new policies were implemented in October.

“This policy bans disposal of medical waste at sea except under extenuating circumstances,” Ball said. “Medical wastes disposed of at sea by surface ships must be properly packaged, sterilized” and sunk.

Wilson, in a prepared statement Wednesday, said: “To its credit, the Navy is reevaluating its policy for the disposal of medical waste at sea. It is now considering a ban on the disposal of all medical waste in the oceans.”