AEDC ramps up UXO response

  • Published
  • By Shawn Jacobs
  • AEDC/PA
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. --  Many AEDC personnel have noticed a number of controlled detonations of unexploded ordnance (UXO) scheduled recently on base.

As part of the Air Force's Military Munitions Response Program (MMRP), UXO surface clearance teams from Bay West and Shaw Environmental are currently seeking out and mitigating UXOs within the old Camp Forrest training area. The teams "blow in place" (BIP) any UXOs the same day they are discovered, using a technique that minimizes the explosion and the impact to the environment.

"They dig a hole and place the UXO - if they can safely move it - into the bottom of the hole with the charges," according to Denny Timmons, Air Force installation restoration program manager, who also manages the MMRP. "They then cover that up with dirt, put plywood over it, place sandbags on top of the plywood and then dirt on top of that, so what you have is a minimal explosion with the UXO fragments contained within the hole allowing easier recovery."

The mission of the Air Force MMRP is to take actions to address unexploded ordnance discarded military munitions (DMM), and munitions constituents (MC) on munitions response sites (MRSs). The MRSs include former ranges and other sites used for military training, weapons systems testing and munitions treatment. The Air Force has prioritized MRSs according to environmental, health and safety considerations, as well as current and future planned resource use and site attributes and is dedicated to protecting human health and the environment by making these sites safe for reuse, according to Timmons.

"Arnold was involved initially in the MMRP in 2003, when the Air Force inventoried all historical ranges, and because we had Camp Peay and Camp Forrest located here, eight historical ranges were identified through record searches," he said. "These ranges were designated munitions response areas" (MRAs).

Two phases of investigations called Comprehensive Site Evaluation Surveys followed and a Wide Area Assessment (WAA) was accomplished by having a plane fly over the base to detect anomalies associated with ranges (berms, craters, firing lines, etc.). The MRAs were further investigated and refined as to what types of ranges they were and what ordnance was used, narrowing the eight MRAs down to smaller MRSs.

"We found a variety of small arms range, large arms range, anti-tank range and machine gun range areas," Timmons said. "We have three small arms ranges (SARs) that are in the southwest corner of the base, the Camp Peay ranges that were used during World War I. The SARs were also used by the FBI after World War I, and Camp Peay itself was used as a staging area when they built Camp Forrest."

Timmons said four grenade ranges and two impact areas were also located on base property.

"Additionally, we had Artillery Impact Area North, near Sinking Pond, and we had Old Impact Area South, east of UTSI Road and south of Wattendorf Highway, where we're
currently performing the surface clearance," Timmons said. "The Camp Forrest Maneuver Area encompassed these ranges."

For the current surface clearance in the Old Impact Area South, a 518-acre area was divided into one-acre grids. More than 160 grids have been cleared to date, with 25 MEC (munitions and explosives of concern) items found and more than 2,800 pounds of munition debris collected.

A controlled burn prior to the survey aided search teams by clearing the layer of leaves and other natural debris from the ground. The final step in the current project will be to investigate craters at this MRS, as well as the Artillery Impact Area North, which were identified from the WAA aerial survey.

"We're looking at August or September to have the surface clearance completed and then begin the crater investigations." Timmons said. "There are about 60 craters that have been identified, and it involves going to each of those craters and investigating them for MEC."

Much of the land undergoing surface clearance is used by hunters, bikers and hikers, so there is a clear desire to make it safer for recreation. Two or three hunters each year usually report finding UXOs, according to Timmons. Tech Sgt. Marvin Gardner, of Air Force Weapons Safety, and Russ Roosa, ATA Weapons Safety, conduct a very aggressive safety program here aimed at the base population, contractors and hunters, he said.

The cleanup is being paid for with money from a special Air Force fund designated for MMRP and similar programs.

Investigations showed two other sites at AEDC warranted further action. Two portions of the Camp Peay range complex qualified for "dig and haul," where lead contaminated soil was stabilized and shipped off to a special waste landfill in Lewisburg, Tenn.