Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield yesterday moved to reassure Southampton residents that oil in Bassett's Cave at the former US Naval Annex is not leaching into the area's fresh water lens.

Ms Butterfield said responsibility for the clean-up of environmental contamination at the Baselands falls under the Ministry of Works and Engineering and the Bermuda Land Development Company (BLDC), not the Ministry of the Environment.

But the Environment Ministry continues to monitor the situation, and Ms Butterfield said contamination in Bassett's Cave is being contained, even though clean-up is delayed, she said.

“I would like to reassure the public that the contaminants are not migrating into the fresh water lens,” Ms Butterfield said.

Tests were conducted one month ago by Dr. Kent Simmons of Bermuda Water Consultants on Bassett's Cave. There are currently 12 monitoring wells at the cave, and a further six test holes will be installed.

“The monitoring evidence shows the contaminants are being contained,” Ms Butterfield finished. “The situation is not getting worse, even though the clean-up has been delayed.”

She spoke in the wake of recent criticism of her Ministry for not putting aside funding in this year's Budget to fund environmental clean-ups at the Baselands.

The Department of Environmental Protection was particularly criticised last week by Opposition Senator Kim Swan over the lack of funding to clean up Bassett's Cave.

Ms Butterfield stated both at the time of Sen. Swan's comments and in a press statement yesterday that the Department of Environmental Protection is responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of the clean-up to ensure it is done according to acceptable environmental standards.

The Environment Ministry is not, however, responsible for the actual maintenance of the Baselands. That responsibility belongs to Works and Engineering and the BLDC, Ms Butterfield said.

It is for that reason, she explained, that funds to clean up Bassett's Cave on the old US Annex property in Southampton did not appear in the budget for Environment this year.

The Ministry of Works and Engineering have been actively reviewing the clean-up of Bassett's Cave.

It was stated in the Senate during the Budget debate on Works and Engineering that the BLDC will be looking to make the land more marketable to developers by taking on some of the clean-up.

The extent of that clean-up may depend on the methods chosen both for clean-up and development, however, Works and Engineering Permanent Secretary Derrick Binns told The Royal Gazette last week.

The Royal Gazette has been unable to speak directly with BLDC head Patrick Jones for further comment regarding the extent of the clean-up.

Government also stated that in January, 2004 Works and Engineering commissioned Atkins Environment, UK to do a study of the contaminated soils and groundwater at Bassett's Cave.

The results of that study will be used to support a Bermuda Government application for a grant from the Overseas Territories Environmental Programme to conduct a feasibility study on clean-up options for the cave and seek the necessary funds to implement that method.

If the application is not successful, the Ministry will then focus on finding alternative funding for the study, the statement said.

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