Italy must address decades of illegal disposal of toxic waste in dozens of areas of Naples, a European court ruled Jan. 30, 2025. Some of the affected areas are near Naval Support Activity Naples, including the U.S. base's Support Site with family homes and schools. (Alison Bath/Stars and Stripes)
NAPLES, Italy — Italy must address decades of illegal dumping and waste burning in an area that serves as the U.S. Navy’s headquarters in Europe, a high court on the Continent has ruled.
In the Jan. 30 ruling, the European Court of Human Rights faulted Italy for not dealing with the dumping, burying and burning of toxic waste and other garbage in an area of Naples known as “Terra dei Fuochi,” or Land of Fires.
Authorities had known about the issue, along with its health and environmental impacts, since 1988, the court noted.
At issue are some 90 municipalities in the provinces of Naples and nearby Caserta used by criminal organizations to illegally dump assorted waste from across Italy on private land, frequently combined with burning.
Some of those areas, such as the commune of Aversa, are situated near Naval Support Activity Naples, including the base’s Support Site, with family housing and schools.
Italy was faulted in a recent court ruling for failing to curb decades of illegal waste disposal in Naples, jeopardizing the health of residents who include the numerous American service members stationed in the area. (Alison Bath/Stars and Stripes)
About 2.9 million people, more than half of the population of the Campania region, live in the affected areas, according to the ruling. There are about 8,500 personnel assigned to NSA Naples.
The court, based in Strasbourg, France, ordered Italy to develop a comprehensive strategy to address illegal dumping in the affected areas. Italy also must create an independent monitoring system and establish a public information platform on pollution levels and health risks, all within two years.
The case was brought before the court by 41 Italian nationals and five organizations based in Campania.
The pollution has long been concern for the Navy, which conducted a two-part public health evaluation from 2008 to 2009. It was thought that the waste disposal was behind higher-than-average rates of some cancers, tumors and other diseases in the region.
The study looked at potential health hazards from exposure to air, tap water, soil and soil gas at 543 off-base residences occupied by U.S. military personnel, according to a copy of the report posted online by Navy Region Europe Africa Central.
Researchers found unacceptable levels of drinking water contamination at residences relying on unpermitted wells and, to a much lesser extent, at some other homes using public drinking water systems.
They also found unacceptable levels of chemicals such as the solvent chloroform in soil gas at some homes, according to the report.
The analysis found that the rate for three types of cancer was similar to that of populations with an average age of less than 50 years old. Birth defect rates also were within expected limits compared to the U.S. population, according to the study.
While the overall air quality in the Campania region largely was better than in the U.S., the risks for respiratory problems, such as asthma or infections, were greater than in America, the report stated.
The Navy concluded that the potential health impacts to military personnel could be mitigated by following established risk management practices, which include identifying, assessing and controlling a potential danger, according to the study.
Researchers advised the Navy to continue requiring landlords to provide military tenants with bottled water and restrict leasing of homes in four areas that roughly coincide with some Terra dei Fuochi communities, among other recommendations.
bath.alison@stripes.com @alisonbath_
