[CPEO-MEF] munitions: source of dioxins and PCBs?

[olah@speagle.com]

At many of the U.S. bases where OB/OD (Open Burning/Open Detonation) of
waste munitions has or is occuring, the military has designed
enviromental sampling plans that include dioxins and PCBs.  Trace
amounts of dioxin have been found at Picatinny Arsenal; there are
numerous reports that dioxin and PCBs have been and are being released
into the air, water, and soil from OB/OD activities at Sierra Army
Depot; in Box Elder, Utah, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and
the State of Utah's Department of Environmental Quality required that a
Metals Recovery Furnace (MRF) processing waste pyrotechnic materials
must ensure "dioxin emissions do not exceed the Hazardous Waste
Combustion MACT standard"; at Sunflower AAP, the Army designed an
environmental sampling plan that included, in addition to metals and
explosives, "PCBs, pesticides, and dioxin levels in surface soils,
vegetation and surface water" in grazing areas; and, the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Part B subpart X permit
modification for weapon system testing at Edwards AFB, California,
including the use of a Precision Impact Range for ordnance and targeting
systems testing, will require accomplishing monitoring of toxic chemical
air pollution releases from OB/OD events -- examples of toxic chemicals
of concern are, but not limited to, "benzene, benzo(a)pyrene,
formaldehyde, and tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxins."

QUESTIONS SPECIFIC TO OB/OD:
What types and relevant components of munitions are expected/suspected
to produce dioxin and/or PCB emissions when burned?
Laura

GENERAL QUESTION:
What other manufacturing or disposal processes, unique to the military,
are the expected/suspected sources of dioxin?

--
Laura Olah, Executive Director
Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger
E12629 Weigand's Bay South
Merrimac, WI  53561
phone (608)643-3124
fax (608)643-0005 alt fax (608)643-2682
Email: olah@speagle.com
Website: http://www.cswab.com



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