Environment Minister the Hon. Gerald Simons has said a "process is in place'' to deal with any environmental problems surrounding the closure of the Base next year.

But Shadow Environment Minister the Rev. Trevor Woolridge has demanded details.

"Having examined the Bases agreement between the UK and the USA, the agreement is in fact silent on who has the responsibility of cleaning up,'' he said.

"So my question is: what does the Minister, on behalf of the Bermuda Government, intend to do with regard to the question of clean-up if it necessary? "What procedures, what types of possible questions for the Americans, does the Minister have to ensure that the Bermudian people can be satisfied that there will not be a problem with clean-up or with cost to them for clean-up?'' The question of clean-up has been raised after accusations in Canada that the US Navy left an environmental mess at a base it is closing in Newfoundland.

Under a lease signed by the US and the UK when Newfoundland was still a British colony, America has no responsibility for environmental problems left behind when the base is shut down. The lease for the Bermuda Base is similar.

On Thursday Sen. Simons said the US Navy had been very co-operative, commissioning environmental studies and appointing an environmental officer who was working closely with Bermuda officials.

He saw no immediate need for Bermuda to hire experts to inspect the US Bases here. He said that later, "if we discovered something, we might have to call in expert assistance''.

He was not aware in what condition the Americans had promised to return Bermuda's land, he said. Mr. Woolridge said he expected Government to show leadership on the issue. "It's our hope that the Bermuda Government negotiating team, when meeting with the American Government, will ensure that if there are any hazardous materials that need to be cleaned up, they will ensure that takes place.'' He added: "Our concern is not at the moment to place any strain on the relationship which we have always enjoyed with the American Government.'' Bermuda should not be led into making charges against the US by alleged problems in another country, he said.