Dumping Explosive and Chemical Ordnance Underwater

Some of the most overlooked areas of ordnance disposal requiring remediation are the underwater dumps. The CHASE program, Cut Holes and Sink Em, dumped large quantities of nuclear and chemical ordnance at sea. Prior to CHASE, large quantities of explosive and chemical ordnance have been disposed of in a similar manner. Whereas some of these dumps are located far out to sea, others may be in rivers, bays, lakes, and other bodies of water. When these sites will be in deep water, idraitification and removal will be difficult but the pollution to marine life will not be reduced. Photos 13 through 18, and Maps 1 through 6 in the photo section relate to some of the ocean dumping of chemical munitions referred to in this chapter. 

TM 9-1904 (cited previously) states, The safest and easiest way to destroy unusable ammunition is to dump at sea. The items disposed of in this manner must be of sufficient weight to sink to the ocean floor. Only at establishments located near a deep sea waterway is this method practicable. Port authorities must be consulted prior to taking explosive materials out to sea... Personnel supervising the loading of boats and barges should be familiar with army regulation no. 55-470.  

Many ordnance disposal areas are not indicated at all on the charts. The hapless captain who dropped anchor, causing a 500-lb bomb to explode, may find his frail craft in trouble. Even causing a chemical ordnance item to rupture could be a problem as the bilge stuck to his rope when he hauls up his anchor could turn out to be polymerized mustard. Most ordnance disposal sites, if listed at all, are listed only as disposal areas on the navigation charts. Experienced boaters know not to anchor in those areas. However, the charts euphemism of disposal site for munitions dumping area may leave novice boaters unaware. 

For example. Fort Armistead is a very old fort located near Baltimore, Maryland. It was used as an ammunition dump during World War II by the Navy. Charts of the northern Chesapeake Bay list a strange disposal site just south of this fort with the notation, Do not anchor. Were leftover munitions disposed of here  

Likewise, even if the chemical agent would be confined to a layer at the bottom of the water, it could still devastate aquatic life, such as can be seen 

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