U.S. military rejects Okinawa access requests over PFAS findings

The Japan Times | December 19, 2025

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"The U.S. military has rejected Okinawa’s requests to conduct on-site inspections at U.S. bases in the prefecture, after per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, were detected around the facilities, the Japanese Defense Ministry said Friday.

The refusal was based on the absence of clear data showing the U.S. military facilities as the source of contamination and on shortcomings in the prefecture’s sampling plans, the ministry said.

It added that it had briefed the prefectural government on the U.S. response."