to the landfill site at the former US Naval Air Station, it was announced yesterday.

US Consul General Mr. Robert Farmer also said his country accepts responsibility for repairing and maintaining the problem-plagued Longbird Bridge.

Mr. Farmer said at a news conference that August 15 damage from Hurricane Felix along the Castle Harbour shoreline had created "a major problem'' at the St. David's Base. Shoreline protection was swept away, he said. Some parts of the former landfill site were washed into the sea, while others were exposed to further erosion.

"We wanted to do the right thing,'' Mr. Farmer said. "The Navy did not pollute while they were in Bermuda, and they did not want to leave Bermuda polluted.'' The US Navy officially quit the Naval Air Station and two other Bermuda Bases as of yesterday, handing the land over to Bermuda.

Environmental damage to the Base lands and a $140-million US Bill for Base land "improvements'' since 1941 have been two major sticking points in the Base closure talks.

Mr. Farmer appeared with Premier the Hon. David Saul and Finance Minister the Hon. Grant Gibbons, who is the main Cabinet Minister responsible for the Bases.

"I can proudly announce that on the day we take over (the Base), the United States Government has continued its excellent tradition of helping Bermuda and playing a very good role as neighbour and friend,'' Dr. Saul said.

Mr. Farmer said Dr. Gibbons contacted him soon after the brush with the hurricane and told him of the "very serious problem out at the landfill''.

But the US had a problem, Mr. Farmer said. Under the same law that closed the Bermuda Bases, Congress had ordered that the Navy spend no more money on them after September 1. "And we had no people here at that point in time to do any work,'' he said.

Mr. Farmer called Washington. Mr. William Cassidy, deputy secretary to the Navy for adjustments and redevelopment, visited Bermuda on August 22 and 23, despite the fact he was supposed to be on vacation at the time. Funding was approved before yesterday's deadline.

"He really pushed this through,'' Mr. Farmer said.

Repairs, expected to cost more than $2 million, will involve regrading the eroded edge of the landfill and building a seawall to prevent futher erosion, he said.

The work by a private contractor is expected to take six months. "The Navy will not abandon the landfill property to the Government of Bermuda until the repairs are completed,'' he said.

US to spend $2 million on landfill Dr. Gibbons, who declined to comment on Mr. Farmer's assertion that the Navy had not polluted while in Bermuda, said "environmental remediation'' in general, and proper closure of the landfill site in particular, had been ongoing concerns in the Base closure talks.

By eroding the landfill -- a former burn pit -- the storm was allowing burned toxins like dioxins to get into the water, he said.

"We commend the US Government for the very quick action they have taken,'' he said.

Mr. Farmer did not promise that more environmental work would be done, but said Mr. Cassidy would return to Bermuda in mid- to late-October.

"The Navy wants to do the right thing,'' he said. "There's great appreciation for the role that Bermuda and Bermudians have played in having as guests up to 5,000 US servicemen.

"I think that at the end of the day we will have a successful meeting of the minds.'' Dr. Gibbons said "this particular action gives me and the Government great comfort that we will be able to reach a satisfactory conclusion''.

Mr. Farmer also had good news for Bermuda about the Longbird Bridge just west of the Airport, which has frequently become stuck open in recent months, creating problems for locals and visitors with flights to catch.

With the Navy pulling out, there were concerns about the ongoing US commitment to look after the bridge.

"The Longbird Bridge is very important to Bermuda,'' Mr. Farmer said. "It is the responsibility of the US Government to repair and maintain it and that responsibility will be met.'' leased by the Americans since 1941 were officially handed back to Bermuda. Dr.

Saul gave the Navy officer a copy of the historic Rich Papers compiled by the National Trust. From left, are Cabinet Secretary Mr. Leopold Mills, Finance Minister the Hon. Grant Gibbons, Deputy Governor Mr. Peter Willis, Dr. Saul, Cdr. McCulley and US Consul General Mr. Robert Farmer.