[CPEO-MEF] Aug. 13 detonation to get rid of explosive residue

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

Nebraska
THE GRAND ISLAND INDEPENDENT
CAAP Load Line 2 to burn next week as part of cleanup
Aug. 13 detonation to get rid of explosive residue
By Tracy Overstreet, toverstreet@theindependent.com
Published Wednesday, August 6, 2003

The three-quarter-mile-long Load Line 2 bomb production line at the
Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant is to be detonated and burned down Aug.
13.

The early-morning burn is scheduled to begin at 6:45 a.m. with the first
of three controlled explosions.

The second and third explosions are scheduled for 7 and 7:15, weather
and conditions permitting.

The explosions and burn are part of what's called "thermal
decontamination," said Mark Vess of MKM Engineers Inc. -- the group that
is performing the cleanup of the former 20-square-mile plant west of
Grand Island.

It's the only way to return the bomb production line area to a safe
condition, Vess said.

The line, constructed in 1942 and used for manufacturing explosives for
World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, contains all kinds of
explosive residue.

The residue is contained in pipes that carried liquefied explosives to
casings in the bomb manufacturing area. It's contained in pipes that
carried away washwater used to rinse down the production line floors,
Vess said.

Electrical switches were made explosion-proof with asbestos gaskets and
florescent lighting ballasts containing polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs), he said.

This article can be viewed at:
http://www.theindependent.com/stories/080603/new_CAAP06.shtml

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CPEO: A DECADE OF SUCCESS.  Your generous support will ensure that our 
important work on military and environmental issues will continue.  
Please consider one of our donation options.  Thank you.
http://www.groundspring.org/donate/index.cfm?ID=2086-0|721-0