Tern Island is an approximately 30-acre coral atoll that was undeveloped until it was significantly modified for military purposes during World War II. The U.S Navy had a presence of Tern from 1942 thru 1946. After the Naval Airfield’s decommissioning in 1946, the US Coast Guard (USCG) assumed primary control of Tern Island to build and, from 1952 until 1979, operate a Long-Range Aid to Navigation (“LORAN") station. From 1979 until 2012, the USFWS operated a year-around research field station on Tern Island, but since 2012 it has had only a seasonal presence there.
The abandonment of the LORAN station resulted in a large amount of waste being placed in a "Bulky Dump." A legacy "Burn Pit" also contributed high concentrations of PCBs to soils on the island. The USCG conducted a cleanup of the Bulky Dump and Burn Pit in 2001; however, the cleanup was not completed and high PCB concentrations persisted, impacting surrounding water and wildlife.
Tern Island is located within Lalo (French Frigate Shoals) and became a part of the National Refuge System in 1909. Today it’s a part of the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge as well as Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM). It is located approximately 490 nautical miles northwest of Honolulu.
The removal action is a collaborative effort between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Interior (DOI) US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The EPA oversees the removal action and the USFWS is taking the lead on habitat and wildlife protection.
