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Military Munitions/Unexploded Ordnance
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Overview
Historically, millions of acres of former munitions ranges were transferred from the military to be used for other purposes. These properties are formerly used defense sites (FUDS) or property transferred by the past five rounds of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) (i.e., 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995, 2005). The Department of Defense (DoD) is currently working to further define the inventory of sites and acreage that are potentially contaminated with military munitions and to prioritize these sites for cleanup. Environmental regulators overseeing response actions dealing with military munitions have an independent authority and/or responsibility to evaluate the public safety and environmental aspects of these response actions.
While some of the sites are fairly small, others may cover dozens or even hundreds of square miles in area. Ranges or other sites contaminated with military munitions may potentially have soil, ground water and surface water contamination from munitions residues (including explosives and heavy metals, and at a small number of sites, chemical warfare agents or depleted uranium). These residues may derive from partially detonated and decomposing ordnance and explosives from training activities, flares, smoke grenades, open burning and open detonation disposal activities, munitions burial sites, weapons testing and other military activities. Of course, the potential for premature detonation of the munitions is generally the principal concern during initial response actions.
Fatalities and severe injuries have resulted from citizens accidentally being exposed to military munitions or from people deliberately removing military munitions for souvenirs or other use. A number of chemical exposures with associated health effects have also been reported, some related to chemical warfare agents.
For more information, please contact:
Doug Maddox
Email: maddox.doug@epa.gov
Phone: (703) 603-0087
EPA Munitions Policy and Guidance
You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA‘s PDF page to learn more. If you need assistance accessing any of the PDFs, please contact Jyl Lapachin at (703) 603-0046 or lapachin.jyl@epa.gov.
Munitions Response Guidelines (OSWER Directive 9200.1-101) (PDF) (33 pp, 446K) – July 27, 2010
EPA Federal Facilities Forum Issue Paper: Site Characterization for Munitions Constituents (PDF) (170 pp, 7.9MB)
This paper provides remedial project managers and other federal, state, and private personnel working on hazardous waste sites the technical information needed to make decisions regarding the nature of energetic residues on Department of Defense training ranges (and other munitions sites, such as Formerly Used Defense Sites), sampling strategies that provide representative samples, and analytical methods developed to characterize these samples.Federal Facilities Forum Fact Sheet: Site Characterization for Munitions Constituents (PDF) (2 pp, 595K)
This fact sheet provides a summary of the "Site Characterization for Munitions Constituents" issue paper (see above).Interim Munitions and Explosives of Concern Hazard Assessment (MEC HA) Methodology Document
In spring 2004, EPA convened a work group with other federal agencies, States, and Tribal participants to develop a hazard assessment methodology for munitions response sites. The methodology is intended to be used in the CERCLA process to help project teams evaluate current or baseline explosive safety hazards to people, as well as the relative reduction in hazards associated with CERCLA removal and remedial action alternatives.U.S. Corp of Engineers (COE) Letters to California, Texas and Illinois Regarding Munitions on Closed Military Ranges (PDF) (4 pp, 165K) - October 21, 2005
This document provides EPA's views concerning military munitions left on closed ranges.Handbook on the Management of Munitions Response Actions - May 2005
Military Munitions Rule: Hazardous Waste Identification and Management; Explosives Emergencies; Manifest Exemption for Transport of Hazardous Waste on Right-of-Ways on Contiguous Properties (Final Rule) (PDF) (21 pp, 45K)
EPA finalized regulations that clarify when conventional and chemical military munitions become a hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). This rule amends existing regulations regarding emergency responses and RCRA manifest requirements.Recommendations for EPA Regional Offices on Preliminary Assessments and Site Inspections for the Department of Defense Military Munitions Response Program (OSWER Directive 9200.3-60) (PDF) (6 pp, 1.4MB) - April 5, 2010
Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Incident Report (Revision 1) (PDF) (471 pp, 1.3MB) - September 30, 2001
DoD and EPA Management Principles for Implementing Response Actions at Closed, Transferring, and Transferred (CTT) Ranges - March 7, 2000
Department of Defense (DoD) Munitions Policy and Guidance
You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA‘s PDF page to learn more. If you need assistance accessing any of the PDFs, please contact Jyl Lapachin at (703) 603-0046 or lapachin.jyl@epa.gov.
Department of Defense Policy to Implement the EPA’s Military Munitions Rule (PDF) (23 pp, 80K)
This policy interprets the requirements of the Military Munitions Rule (MR) (62 FR 6621, February 12, 1997) and establishes an overarching policy for the management of waste military munitions (WMM) that is consistent among DoD Components.Munitions Response Site Prioritization Protocol (Final Rule) | PDF Version (39 pp, 2.1MB)
Defense Environmental Programs Annual Report to Congress: Munitions Response Site (MRS) Inventory
Definitions Related to Munitions Response Actions (PDF) (6 pp, 202K) - December 18, 2003
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Report of the Defense Science Board Task Force on Unexploded Ordnance (PDF) (150 pp, 7.1MB) - November 2003
Report of the Defense Science Board Task Force on Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Clearance, Active Range UXO Clearance, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Programs (PDF) (48 pp, 2.9MB) - April 1998
Additional Information Resources
You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA‘s PDF page to learn more. If you need assistance accessing any of the PDFs, please contact Jyl Lapachin at (703) 603-0046 or lapachin.jyl@epa.gov.
Government Accountability Office (GAO) Munitions-related Reports
DOD Operational Ranges: More Reliable Cleanup Cost Estimates and a Proactive Approach to Identifying Contamination Are Needed (PDF) (54 pp, 6.1MB) - May 2004
Military Munitions: DOD Needs to Develop a Comprehensive Approach for Cleaning Up Contaminated Sites (PDF) (36 pp, 1.6MB) - December 2003
Military Training: DOD Lacks a Comprehensive Plan to Manage Encroachment on Training Ranges (PDF) (48 pp, 446K) - June 2002
Environmental Liabilities: DOD Training Range Cleanup Cost Estimates Are Likely Understated (PDF) (39 pp, 899K) - April 2001
Unexploded Ordnance: A Coordinated Approach to Detection and Clearance Is Needed (PDF) (33 pp, 321K) - September 1995