Remaining Unexploded Chemical Ordnance

As noted, some of the munitions previously found contain liquefied poison gas, which is designed to vaporize when the shell ruptures on impact and likewise will vaporize if it rusts through. Because the similar World War I Livens projectiles the District of Columbia examined at Camp Simms were badly pitted and corroded— reducing their original thickness 

There were many shells fired during the dispersion testing that must have left many isolated dud or UXO rounds. For example, on fired Stokes mortars at Camp Simms several unexploded (dud) shells were found resulting from failure to detonate on impact. A similar number of exploded Stokes mortars were also found. Although the final numbers are not in yet, an approximate 50% dud ratio is emerging. Similarly, one of three Livens projectiles was a dud. This is extremely high, most likely due to the early developmental stage of the mortar at this time. 

There is no way of knowing how many unsatisfactory shells were produced and tested before arriving at the best solutions, or just how effective the chosen method was in most cases. However, it appears that it took four people a month and a half to solve just one problem with one type of shell designed for static testing, indicating a substantial number of dud shells. Similar research details an extensive effort to develop an all ways fuse for the Stokes and Livens mortars, suggesting more malfunctions. In all probability, there are numerous isolated dud rounds that must be located and cleared. 

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Concerns about Remaining Unexploded Ordnance and Chemical Containers... 

Because the remediation efforts at Spring Valley did not address all of the areas of concern reflected in the Historical Report, serious questions remain over the adequacy of the search for unexploded ordnance as well as the survey for residual contamination from the toxic substances used in the research. There are five areas of research findings that bear on the issue of whether or not a potential for more buried chemical weapons munitions exists ... 

From the historical documents, the military experience at other ranges, and the fact that UXO have already been discovered on-site, unexploded and buried chemical and high-explosive ordnance is certain to remain at Spring Valley. Although quick and commendable efforts were done to check 53 key areas and to remove ordnance accidentally discovered, the... 

When World War I ended in 1918, over 16 million acres of France were cordoned off due to the danger of unexploded ordnance. Today, more than 80 years after the conflict, many chemical bombs and shells still remain scattered in the former No Mans Land in France, requiring special engineers— demineurs—to dig up and destroy countless munitions posing hazards to local inhabitants and farmers. Most of this ordnance contains high explosive, but some may also have remnants of CW agents such as mustard. 

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