COMMUNITIES IN THE LINE OF FIRE: The Environmental, Cultural,

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and Human Health Impacts of Military Munitions and Firing

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Ranges

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UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

2002

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary .. 1

Military Munitions . 3

Impacts on Communities and the Environment .. 6

Types of Sites Contaminated with Munitions 7

Sources of Contamination 9

Common Contaminants and Health Dangers. 10

Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) .. 13

Open Burning/Open Detonation (OB/OD) . 15

Impacts on Cultural and Historic Sites . 16

Contamination of Food Supplies and Drinking Water . 16

Impacts on Endangered Species and the Environment . 18

Regulation of Military Munitions and Ranges. 18

Department of Defense Explosives Safety Board 19

CERCLA.. 19

RCRA. 21

Other Statutes. 23

Conclusion. 24

Case Studies

Badger Army Ammunition Plant. 25

Fort Richardson, Eagle River Flats Impact Area . 28

Jefferson Proving Ground 29

Panama.. 30

Makua Valley, Hawai’i. 32

Massachusetts Military Reservation .. 33

Okinawa 35

San Diego, California. 36

Sierra Army Depot.. 36

Vieques, Puerto Rico . 38

Appendices

A - Abbreviations and Acronyms 40

B - Glossary 42

C - Superfund Sites with UXO Contamination. 47

D - Sites with Interim Permits for OB/OD . 49

E - Types of Unexploded Ordnance 51