New Approach Needed to Destroy Buried CWM at 250 Military Sites

WASHINGTON — The current approach for identifying and destroying buried chemical munitions and related chemical warfare materials uncovered during environmental remediation projects is neither reliable enough nor has the capability to efficiently tackle large-scale projects, says a new report from the National Research Council ...

Remediation of Buried Chemical Warfare Materiel

Following a 1985 directive from Congress, the Army has undertaken the monumental task of destroying the existing U.S. stockpile of chemical weapons. To date, 90 percent of the stockpile has been destroyed, and the remaining 10 percent is expected to be destroyed by 2022. However, during the early- to mid-20th century, chemical weapons and chemical warfare materiel were often disposed of by open pit burning and burial at approximately 250 sites in 40 states, the District of Columbia and three territories.

Remediation of this buried materiel, in addition to environmental cleanup of the burial sites, therefore poses significant challenges to the nation and DOD. The report examines important regulatory issues that ultimately affect the need, timing, and costs of remediating these sites. Federal and state environmental remediation policies address whether buried CWM must be excavated and destroyed or contained in place ...

FUDS with buried chemical WMD

The report recommends as a "matter of urgency" that the secretary of defense increase funding for the remediation of chemical warfare materiel to enable the Army to complete the inventories of known and suspected buried chemical munitions no later than 2013.

Remediation of Buried Chemical Warfare Materiel
National Academy of Sciences
August 6 2012

Family Asks to be Relocated During Demolition of Glenbrook House

A family on Glenbrook Road has asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to pay for them to rent a home while the house across from theirs -- at 4825 Glenbrook -- is demolished ... The resident, who asked that her name not be published, has a 1-year-old and a 5-year-old and is worried that a problem could occur during the demolition. She said in an interview that her request was rejected by the Corps and has since gone to the appeal level. Dan Noble, co-chair of the Spring Valley Restoration Advisory Board and project manager of the area's cleanup, said he could not comment, as the matter is in the midst of "a formal legal process."

USACE Poster Session (7/17/12)

The Corps had hoped to knock down 4825 Glenbrook during the university's summer vacation, but because of delays in getting approval, work will probably take place this fall. "We can accommodate demolition during the school year," said [project manager Brenda] Barber, adding that the work should take between two and three weeks and be completed by the end of fall. Barber said additional engineering work must be done to protect adjacent properties, including the home of American University President Neil Kerwin and the South Korean ambassador's residence. "We are working very closely with AU," she said. Once work starts, Barber said, the Corps will post weekly updates on the project website, which can be found at tinyurl.com/corps-cleanup.
Northwest Current
July 25, 2012 (pg. 5)