These studies have focused on the principal high explosives contamination
typically resulting from manufacturing and from loading, assembling, and
packaging of explosives into casings. The primary difference between fate and
transport of explosives residues on ranges and contamination associated with
loading, assembling, and packaging facilities is the integrity of the delivery
system, the transport of explosives from the munitions, and the environment
(aquatic, terrestrial, wetland) in which the delivery system comes to rest. Instead
of solubilized explosives concentrated in lagoons and washout areas as has been
observed at loading, assembling, and packaging facilities, firing ranges present
more diffuse sources that are less readily characterized. In addition to
contaminated soil, explosives are also present in munitions at various states of
integrity (solid formulations) that may completely or partially confine the
explosives. Since fate and transport processes have not been studied in the
context of range contamination, data for process descriptors are incomplete or
lacking for some relevant explosives compounds, propellants, and detonation by-
products.
Related Ongoing and Leveraged Studies
Range characterization
The Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), Hanover,
NH, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), has an
agreement with the U. S. Army Alaska Public Works to conduct site investiga-
tions at four firing ranges: Range Alpha and Stuart Creek at Fort Wainwright and
Washington and Delta Creek Ranges at Fort Greeley. These site investigations
will be leveraged to provide additional data on concentrations of explosives
residues in surface soils due to training range activities.
Fate and transport studies
Two studies are currently under execution at the Environmental Laboratory,
Vicksburg, MS, ERDC, concerning fate and transport processes for explosives.
The studies are funded under the Installation Restoration Research Program of
the Army Environmental Quality Technology Program. One work unit,
A835/301X/UX001, "Characterization and Mobilization of Unexploded
Ordnance," is quantifying chemical signatures emanating from UXO under
various environmental and geophysical conditions. The purpose of the study is to
provide the technical basis for chemical sensor development, for discrimination
between UXO and innocuous clutter, and for refinement in classification of
detected UXO. The other work unit, A835/309E/RE004, "Fate and Transport of
Explosives Contaminants," is developing screening level and comprehensive fate
and transport models and process descriptors for UXO in soil, aquifer, and
aquatic environments for use in the exposure phase of risk assessments. These
work units are concerned with explosives from UXO rather than from the more
diffuse and diverse explosives residues that exist at firing ranges. However,
transport parameters developed under these work units will be used in this project
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Chapter 1 Introduction
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