During intrusive investigations on September 16, the team encountered an intact 3-inch Stokes mortar round on Quebec Street within Area of Interest (AOI) 13. The Army Corps’ ordnance and explosives safety specialist and an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit from Joint Base Andrews responded to the site. The item was x-rayed in place, examined, and safely transported offsite by the EOD unit for disposal. The item was destroyed on the range the same day. Based on observations of the explosion during disposal, the EOD unit reported that the 3” Stokes mortar contained 2½ pounds of high explosive (HE) filler. Due to the HE filler, the item was determined to be a munitions and explosives of concern (MEC) item ... Noble explained that the item was located one foot down ... This property was part of the previous remedial investigation in 2006 ...
During the previous remedial investigation, the teams were not removing vegetation for anomaly investigation, only investigating open areas. The Stokes mortar was located in the footprint of a large mature rhododendron. During the current remedial action, the homeowner allowed the removal of the rhododendron to scan the ground underneath that had not been previously investigated ... In this case, the Stokes mortar contained a high explosive fill, so there was detonation potential associated with the item ... Based on where the item was found, in AOI 13 bordering the AU campus and the former experiment station, it is likely that the Stokes mortar was not fired. The item was not found in an impact area. The item may have been a munition brought in to be worked on and discarded in the area for some reason. The item was most likely a discarded military munition, rather than UXO [unexploded ordnance].
Spring Valley RAB
Meeting Minutes
November 10, 2020 (pg. 6 - 7)
