Facilities munitions

S. Rosenberg and J. Carray2a, Conventional Munition Demilitari tion andDisposal private communication, ARDEC, Dover, N.J. (iacludes ahst of activities at all U.S. government facilities). 

Casey, Facility Design Reviews Program for Munitions Production Base Modernization and Expansion, Status Report , PATM 2178 (1975) 33) B.W. Jezek et al, Applications of Suppressive Shielding in Hazardous Operation Protection , Rept No EM-TR-76008, Edgewood Arsenal, APG (1975) 34) W.F. Nekevis et... 

Bangor Naval Submarine Base, on the Hood Canal in the State of Washington, provides fine recreational facilities for service people stationed there, as well as for civilian employees. A proposal to divert runoff from munitions-contaminated areas towards the recreational fishing pond, Cattail Lake, led to a decision to identify hazard levels for the compounds of interest. In addition to trout, there was concern over contamination of bivalves, such as oysters, cockles, and clams, at the pond s outlet to Hood Canal. Bioconcentration factors (BCFs), assumed applicable for both fish and bivalves, were developed for three compounds (Table III). BCFs, together with Uj. values and worst-case levels of fish or bivalve consumption (0.4 kg/day) provided PPLVs for the pond water, according to the equation... 

Toxic chemicals are further defined in Article II para 2 as meaning Any chemical which through its chemical action on life processes can cause death, temporary incapacitation or permanent harm to humans and animals. This includes all such chemicals, regardless of their origin or of their method of production and regardless of whether they are produced in facilities, in munitions or elsewhere . 

Containment Structure Concepts. In some types of safety facilities, it is either necessary or desirable to completely contain the effects of internal explosions. This requirement can arise because personnel, critical equipment, or critical operations must be located very near the facility, so one wishes to entirely eliminate blast emitted from the safety structure. A more stringent requirement requiring complete containment occurs in facilities for demilitarization of chemical munitions. Here, the extremely toxic... 

In chemical munitions facilities, surfaces must be sealed by coating or treating to prevent agent absorption during spills so that decontamination can be obtained. 

This paper describes the development of a system and facilities for safe, efficient, and accurate filling of white phosphorus (UP) munitions. This new development replaces dip-fill operations used by the U.S. Army for over thirty years, a production method that was hazardous to operating personnel and generated unacceptable quantities of phosphorus contaminated water and gas. The new development, Volumetric Filling, is relatively pollution free and exceeds the U.S. Army s standards for filling of white phosphorus munitions. 

Figure 11. Most recent facility using the PBA concept for limited production/experimental filling of standard and new munitions and canisters. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army.

With the various system available for the suppression high energy chemical fires, there is, in most cases a configuration suitable for almost any explosives, pyrotechnic or munitions facility. 

Repair and Reuse After Explosion. Although the risk of a high order detonation of a munition during disassembly is low, this hazard does exist. In the event of such an incident, it is a design requirement for the containment rooms to suffer only minimal damage and allow rapid refurbishment. To assure this capability, the containment room structural design criteria are more conservative than Department of Defense Explosive Safety Criteria would normally require. This is considered appropriate since vapor containment is so critical in this facility. 

Toaming rounds refer to the phenomenon experienced at baseline facilities when agent overflows and/or sprays from a mustard agent munition during the burster pull operation. 

JACADS, the first fully integrated baseline incineration system for the disposal of stockpiled chemical agent and munitions, is located on Johnston Island, part of the Johnston Atoll, approximately 800 miles southwest of Hawaii. The facility occupies 130 acres of the 625-acre island and includes one large process building, with three furnaces and auxiliary equipment. 

A key element of the mission of the CSDP is to eliminate safely the aging U.S. stockpile of chemical agents and munitions. The Army has in place safety and occupational and environmental health programs at chemical agent disposal facilities that have been visited by the Stockpile Committee (NRC, 2001). The committee found these programs to be comprehensive, professional, and adequate to meet the occupational health and safety needs of the CSDP workers as well as to protect the public and the environment (NRC, 2001). 

The amount of agent-contaminated wastes to be disposed of during closure is estimated to be approximately 5.8 million pounds, according to the Facility Closure Plan (Table 1 in the Plan) (U.S. Army, 2000a). This quantity includes (1) waste stored on-site as of April 2000, (2) predicted increases in waste until the end of the munitions campaign (completed November 2000), (3) coprocessing of heavy machinery, (4) USACAP waste inventory, and (5) closure wastes from dismantlement and decontamination primarily in the MDB. Approximately 2.1 million pounds is expected from the dismantlement of the first and second floors of the MDB and the HVAC systems. In addition, approximately... 

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