Alternatives to open burning, open detonation of conventional waste munitions

The report assesses the pros and cons of OB/OD and alternative technologies.  Implementing alternative technologies for munitions treatment would result in reduced emissions compared with OB/OD, but it would also be associated with increased capital and operating costs, although with lower closure costs.  In addition, alternative technologies that treat the same types of munitions as those treated by OB/OD will have varying throughputs, depending on the capabilities of the technologies, munitions being treated, and other factors including permit restrictions.

NAS says that as part of the study, the committee focused on the DOD conventional munitions stockpiles being demilitarized at seven depots – Anniston Munitions Center; Blue Grass Army Depot; Crane Army Ammunition Activity; Hawthorne Army Depot; Letterkenny Munitions Center; McAlester Army Ammunition Plant; and Tooele Army Depot. However, the committee noted that the findings and recommendations of this report will have implications for and applicability to open burning and open detonation conducted at other locations.

Key findings of the report include:

·  There are no significant technical, safety, or regulatory barriers to deploying alternative technologies for disposal of the vast majority of the conventional waste munitions, and the Army has made progress in implementing some of them.

·  Each alternative technology that the study assessed as a potential replacement to the current practice would have lower emissions and less of an environmental and public health impact and would therefore likely be more acceptable to the public.

·  Although the Office of the Product Director for Demilitarization at DOD has a strategic plan for increasing the use of alternative technologies and transitioning away from OB/OD, it lacks a detailed implementation plan. Both the DOD and Army have placed relatively low priority on funding the demilitarization program, including the implementation of additional alternative technologies, as reflected in past budgets.

The committee recommended DOD develop a detailed implementation plan for transitioning from OB/OD to alternative technologies, with appropriate performance metrics, and institutionalize it through the demilitarization program.

Representatives of public interest groups say that before selecting a technology to be implemented at a specific site, community preferences and the conditions of the site should be considered.  The committee recommended that the Army identify issues that could affect the permit process for alternative technologies, including public concerns, and work with state regulators to minimize the chance of issues becoming problematic, thereby reducing the risk of permit delays.

The report notes some munitions may be unstable and possibly shock-sensitive due to decreasing stability in the explosives or propellants as they age.  This makes them unsuitable for disposal using alternative technologies because transportation and handling must be minimized to reduce exposure of workers to the explosive hazards posed by these munitions.  For this reason, the committee concluded that the capability for OB/OD would continue to be needed to dispose of certain munitions.