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Military Munitions/Unexploded Ordnance Links
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This is not a comprehensive list of documents available on this topic. For a full list of all relevant documents, please visit our library.
EPA Munitions Policy and Guidance
- Munitions and Explosives of Concern Hazard Assessment - In the spring of 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 that is under development is intended to be used in the CERCLA process to help project teams evaluate explosive safety hazards, as well as removal and remedial action alternatives to address those hazards. The documents, issue papers, outreach efforts, and other materials related to this effort are available at the work group website.
- EPA Memo to Regional Enforcement Managers Concerning Military Munitions on Closed Ranges (PDF, 4 pages, 46.1 KB) - October 21, 2005. This document provides EPA's views concerning military munitions left on closed ranges.
- Handbook on the Management of Munitions Response Actions (PDF, 315 pages, 4.38MB) - May 2005
- Military Munitions Final Rule (PDF, 21 pages, 44.9KB)
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, see more info...- Draft EPA Guidelines for Munitions Response (PDF, 31 pages, 119KB) - February 27, 2008.
- Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Incident Report (Revision 1) (PDF, 471 pages, 1.31MB) - September 30, 2001.
- DoD and EPA Management Principles for Implementing Response Actions at Closed, Transferring, and Transferred (CTT) Ranges (PDF, 12 pages, 348KB) - March 7, 2000.
Site-specific Munitions Information
- Left to corrode, unexploded ordnance (UXO) can release toxic substances, including explosives and heavy metals, into the soil and groundwater. For example, Royal Demolition Explosive (RDX), a highly toxic explosive constituent, has been found at the Fort Ord site.
- RDX is the same chemical that triggered EPA’s unusual Safe Drinking Water Act cleanup order at the Massachusetts Military Reservation, where range contamination threatens the drinking water supply serving hundreds of thousands of people.
- Over 200 potential UXO sites have been identified under the Adak Naval Air Station site's operable unit (OU) B. This contamination is primarily a result of World War II munitions storage, handling and training.
- The Spring Valley site, located in the northwest section of the District of Columbia, is a 660-acre facility that was used as a research and test center for chemical weapons during World War I.
Other Federal Agency Resources
Department of Defense (DoD) Munitions Policy and Guidance
- DoD Implementation Policy of EPA's Military Munitions Rule
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.- DoD Munitions Response Site Prioritization Protocol (MRSPP)
- DoD Munitions Response Site Inventory
- DoD Memorandum on Definitions Related to Munitions Response Actions (PDF, 6 pages, 202KB) - December 18, 2003.
- DoD Explosives Safety Board (DDESB)
- Defense Science Board
- Report of the Defense Science Board Task Force on Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) (PDF, 150 pages, 4.45MB) - November 2003.
- Report of the Defense Science Board Task Force on UXO Clearance Active Range UXO Clearance, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Programs (PDF, 47 pages, 836KB) - April 1998.
- US Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville Center, Ordnance and Explosives Directorate
- Defense Environmental Network and Information Exchange (DENIX) serves as a central platform for the dissemination of environment, safety and occupational health (ESOH) news, policy and guidance within DoD activities worldwide, in support of the national defense mission.
- DENIX UXO (Password Protected)
- Get a DENIX User Account
- UXO Safety Education Program
- Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) - Munitions Management Projects
- Strategic Environmental Research & Development Program (SERDP) - Munitions Management Projects
General Accounting Office (GAO) Munitions Related Reports
- Department of Defense (DoD) Operational Ranges: More Reliable Cleanup Cost Estimates and a Proactive Approach to Identifying Contamination Are Needed (PDF, 54 pages, 6.07MB) - May 2004.
- Military Munitions: DoD Needs to Develop a Comprehensive Approach for Cleaning Up Contaminated Sites (PDF, 36 pages, 1.64MB) - December 2003.
- Military Training: DoD Lacks a Comprehensive Plan to Manage Encroachment on Training Ranges (PDF, 48 pages, 446KB) - June 2002.
- Environmental Liabilities: DoD Training Range Cleanup Cost Estimates Are Likely Understated (PDF, 39 pages, 899KB) - April 2001.
- Unexploded Ordnance: A Coordinated Approach to Detection and Clearance Is Needed (PDF, 33 pages, 321KB) - September 1995.