T48 Munitions: Sources, Fate and Transport

Monday, 5 November 2001
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM

DISTRIBUTION AND FATE OF ENERGETICS ON DOD TEST AND TRAINING RANGES

Paper number: T48-3
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM

Authors

Abstract

Current knowledge concerning the nature and extent of residual explosives contamination is inadequate to ensure management of ranges as sustainable resources. The objective of this project is to develop techniques for assessing the potential for environmental impacts from residual energetics. The approach includes characterization of post blast residues from various heavy artillery munitions and hand grenades by sampling surface soils in craters from both high- and low-order detonations. Residues from specific munitions will also be determined by sampling soot deposited on snow by the blast. Where possible, groundwater and surface water associated with the ranges will be sampled. The study will also fill data gaps in soil transport parameters, such as dissolution kinetics, soil/water partitioning coefficients and transformation/degradation rates. Results from various sites in the U.S. and Canada will be compared.

Surface soils have been analyzed from a heavy artillery impact range and at gun positions at Fort Lewis, WA, and at hand grenade ranges at Fort Lewis, Camp Bonneville, WA, and Fort Richardson, AK. Groundwater from monitoring wells and surface seepages around the heavy artillery range were also sampled. Soil results indicate very low residual concentrations of explosives in high-order artillery detonations. However, low-order detonations left extremely high local concentrations of residues. 2,4-DNT from single-based propellant was detected in surface soil at the firing points of several 105-mm howitzers. Explosives residues at hand grenade ranges were relatively high. Results to date suggest that management of ranges to control residues from low-order detonations may be necessary to ensure environmental protection of local receptors including groundwater.

This research will contribute techniques for range characterization and for development of a source term for explosives residuals resulting from various range activities. These data will provide a basis for insuring environmental compliance and the continued use of test and training ranges as sustainable resources.