Military Munitions Waste

On the basis of these observations, the Military Munitions Waste Working Group believes that the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of... 

The Military Munitions Waste Working Group identified the following seven areas of concern associated with the ordnance (energetics) waste stream ... 

Because of time constraints, the Military Munitions Waste Working Group has focused on unexploded ordnance and contaminated media with the understanding that remaining waste streams will be considered as time permits. 

Military Munitions Waste Working Group Report, DOE/OSTI—11681 (DE94009722) (November 30, 1993). 

The statutory definition points out that whether a material is a solid waste is not based on the physical form of the material (i.e., whether or not it is a solid as opposed to a liquid or gas), but rather that the material is a waste. The regulations further define solid waste as any material that is discarded by being either abandoned, inherently waste-like, a certain military munition, or recycled (Figure 13.1). These terms are defined as follows ... 

Military munitions. Military munitions are all ammunition products and components produced for or used by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) or U.S. Armed Services for national defense and security. Unused or defective munitions are solid wastes when abandoned (i.e., disposed of, burned, incinerated) or treated prior to disposal rendered nonrecyclable or nonuseable through deterioration or declared a waste by an authorized military official. Used (i.e., fired or detonated) munitions may also be solid wastes if collected for storage, recycling, treatment, or disposal. 

Undocumented burial of obsolete munitions was an accepted practice into the Vietnam period. Historically, after each of this country s major military conflicts, the installations built to accommodate training requirements were closed and the lands transferred to other Federal agencies, States, or the private sector. Today, subdivisions are built on top of abandoned military installations, and recreational activities take place on former maneuver areas and ranges. A growing population increases the opportunity for contact with munitions waste, especially unexploded ordnance and buried munitions. Contaminants in soil and water also present problems when they migrate offsite. 

USEPA, Military Munitions Rule, Federal Register, Volume 62, Number 29, February 12, 1997, http //www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-WASTE/1997/February/Day-12/f3218.htm (accessed August 2008). 

Chemical agent material and/or associated equipment and surrounding contaminated media discovered either by chance or during deliberate real estate recovery/restoration operations that was used for its intended purpose or previously disposed of as waste. RCWM will be classified based on the requirements of 40 CFR 266 Subpart M (EPA Military Munitions Rule). RCWM does not fall within the scope of the Army Chemical Surety Program except as detailed in Chapter 12. 

Among other things, the RCRA military munitions rule (62 FR 6622, February 12, 1997) clarifies applicability of RCRA to waste military munitions, including chemical munitions. 

The ERA S Final Military Munitions Rule (62 FR 6622 February 12,1997) essentially classifies UXO as solid waste once it is disposed of or is no longer intended for its original purpose. Conceivably, everything from war souvenirs to duds previously disposed of are now classified as solid waste and therefore regulated. 

Anyone who transports a hazardous waste off-site via air, rail, highway, or water is subject to the RCRA transporter requirements. However, 40 CFR 262.20(0 exempts transport of hazardous wastes within or along the border of contiguous properties under the control of the same person, even if the contiguous properties are divided by a public or private right-of-way. Before implementation of this exemption with the military munitions rule (see 62 FR 6622, February 12, 1997), such transport of hazardous waste was subject to RCRA manifesting requirements. In addition, conditionally exempt. small quantity generators are exempt in specified situations [40 CFR 262.20(e)]. 

Under joint sponsorship by the U. S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) and the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE), a bench-scale transpiring wall reactor was developed by Sandia National Laboratories, FWDC, and GenCorp Aerojet. The reactor, which uses SCWO, was designed to treat military and other liquid wastes. A commercial application of the technology is in use to destroy munitions, colored smokes, and dyes. SWCO may also provide a viable alternative to incineration for the destruction of chemical weapons. 

The WEEE Directive, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive 2002/96/EC, expands the recycling requirements of the ELV Directive to include a broad range of electronic and electrical appliances and equipment. WEEE went into effect on February 13, 2003. It is to be scheduled to become European national law by August 13, 2004, and be applicable to consumer use products by August 13, 2005. Article 2(3) however states Equipment which is connected with the protection of the essential interests of the security of Member States, arms, munitions and war material shall be excluded from this Directive. This does not, however, apply to products which are not intended for specifically military purposes. ... 

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