MESO > Newsletters > Volume Index

Special Edition

November 3, 2003: EPA Releases Draft Munitions Policy, Handbook For Review

The Environmental Protection Agency's Federal Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office recently released two munitions issue-related documents for public review: Draft EPA Guidelines for Munitions Response (182 KB Adobe™ Acrobat™ file) and Draft Handbook on the Management of Ordnance and Explosive at Closed, Transferring and Transferred Ranges and Other Sites (2.70 MB Adobe™ Acrobat™ file). The Guidelines provides direction to EPA Regional Offices overseeing munitions response actions involving military munitions and other ordnance and explosive. The Handbook has been extensively updated since its last incarnation in 2001, and the changes are outlined below:

• Chapter 3 - information has been added regarding the effects on the potential adverse effects of explosive chemicals on ecological receptors.
• Chapter 7 - has been divided into two new chapters; Chapter 7 and 8:
  • The new Chapter 7 discusses planning ordnance and explosives (OE) investigations.
  • Chapter 8 - discusses devising OE investigation and response strategies.
• Chapter 9 (NEW) - addresses the unique issues associated with underwater ordnance and explosives
• Chapter 10 (NEW) - addresses chemical munitions and agents. This chapter focuses on how the cleanup and remediation of chemical munitions and agents is different from conventional munitions.

The EPA is currently requesting public comments on the two documents until December 12, 2003. For further information, or to submit comments, contact Doug Maddox, OSWER Federal Facilities Restoration and Reuse Office, telephone: (703) 603-0087; facsimile: 703-603-0043; e-mail: maddox.doug@epa.gov.

Special Edition: November 3, 2003