The entire West End of the Island is under threat if pollution in Bassett's Cave is not dealt with, Environment Minister Terry Lister said yesterday.

Responding to questions from Shadow Minister for Environment Gary Pitman , Mr.

Lister said: "If environmental damage and destruction done by the Americans leaks out into the water lens, we will lose control and availability of water in the whole West End.'' Mr. Lister found himself under fire on matters of the Environment as the budget for his Environment, Development and Opportunity Ministry was under four hours of debate in the House yesterday.

Ground water pollution is a serious concern for the Island, Mr. Pitman said.

"Fresh water resources are extremely limited and facilities for hazardous waste disposal are virtually non-existent.'' And Mr. Pitman charged that a "clear and present danger'' was posed to the health of those people living in Southampton by this "most heavily polluted piece'' of the Island.

"We know that the cave system at Bassett's Cave at Naval Annex extends to within a few metres of 75 private, fresh water wells and the Port Royal fresh water lens which supplies households in the western third of the Island.

"Bassett's Cave was used by the US military as a disposal well for industrial waste and raw sewage,'' he said.

"The central chamber contains a deep pool of waste oil and other petroleum products floating and washing through the cave system,'' he added and asked the Minister for an update on clean up of this "environmental disaster''.

"It's a very serious matter and we continue to pressure the Americans on it,'' said Mr. Lister.

As his constituency is Sandys South, the Minister said the matter is very high on his list of priorities but, the Americans don't see it as a problem.

"The Americans don't see the danger. They said `just rope it off so no one goes in it','' said Mr. Lister. "They won't come to the wicket.'' However, the Minister pointed to the example of Malabar as a "bright side'' to the issue. This pollution "can be treated'', he said. "The British cleaned up Malabar to the point where the water is better than that on the South Shore beaches.'' Mr. Lister said the Island has to take the positive view that "we can get there'' and that the Ministry continues to monitor the situation at the cave to see whether the pollution is moving.

Mr. Pitman also challenged the Minister on progress on the removal of asbestos saying that the PLP said in 1998 it would be their "priority'' to ship it overseas.

"With this Budget the people of Bermuda will continue to be in danger until April, 2002, some 41 months after the PLP made it a priority. Thank God they don't treat it as a non-priority, then it would be 44 years.'' And he suggested that the possibility of mixing asbestos with concrete and making artificial reefs might be a concept the Ministry study and evaluate.

Mr. Lister said the Shadow Minister "keeps us on our toes over there''.

But again, he pointed out, the matter is under ongoing negotiation with the United States. Mr. Lister said the asbestos awaiting disposal represents a 60-40 split of that generated by the US and that generated by Bermuda and those containers are stored separately.

And he said that while "to the naked eye some (containers) look pretty bad'', the containers were in good condition and were doing their job of holding the asbestos.

To date, however, the Minister pointed out that the BLDC has spent $1.7 million on asbestos abatement.

Meanwhile, the Minister said in presenting his Ministry to the house, Bermuda's first State of the Environment Report is expected by the end of the year. "The report will present a comprehensive overview of Bermuda's environmental conditions and human impacts and will serve as a yardstick for monitoring the effectiveness of planning and environmental policy,'' he said.

The Opposition challenged that the same report was expected by December of last year but the Minister said that progress had been thrown off as a result of delays associated with the Census.

Ministry of the Environment, Development & Opportunity 2001/02 estimates Ministry responsibility: To secure a balance between the protection, conservation and enhancement of Bermuda's environment and the sustainable development needs of the community. To promote and enhance race relations, community relations and Bermuda's cultural heritage.

Budget estimate: $26,868,000 (last year $24,622,000) Revenue: $2,659,000 Department of Planning $703,000 Agriculture & Fisheries $1,389,000 Community Affairs $230,000 Small Business Development Corporation $85,000 Land Valuation $4,000 Ministry HQ $102,000 Human Affairs $0 Parks $146,000 Budget allocations Department of Planning $2,431,000 Agriculture & Fisheries $7,367,000 Community Affairs $1,504,000 Small Business Development Corporation $,536,000 Land Valuation $599,000 Ministry HQ $1,622,000 Cultural Affairs $1,940,000 Human Affairs $5,248,000 Parks $5,621,000 Capital expenditure Acquisitions $127,000 Development $7,790,000