GAO Report on Operational Ranges/Perchlorate

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

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Highlights of GAO-04-601, a General Accounting Office report to
congressional requesters
May 28, 2004

DOD OPERATIONAL RANGES
More Reliable Cleanup Cost Estimates and a Proactive Approach to
Identifying Contamination Are Needed

What GAO Found

DOD identified the location and status of its operational ranges based
on inventory data developed by the individual military services.
However, the reliability of DOD's inventory is questionable because the
services did not use a common framework to collect and analyze data on
the number of existing operational ranges. Because DOD's cost estimates
to clean up its operational ranges were based on individual service
calculations that combined inventory data with unvalidated DOD cost
assumptions, various service assumptions, and computer-generated cost
rates, these cost estimates are also questionable. Specifically, GAO
found that each service compiled inventory data using various
methodologies over different time periods and developed cost estimates
using a mix of differing assumptions and estimates, along with actual
data. As a result, the services' estimates to clean up an acre of highly
contaminated land vary from about $800 for the Air Force to about $7,600
for the Army. The figure below shows high and low cost estimates and
range acreage used to estimate costs, by service. High and Low Cleanup
Cost Estimates and Total Range Acreage by Service 

DOD does not have a comprehensive policy requiring sampling or cleanup
on operational ranges for the more than 200 chemicals associated with
military munitions. However, when required by the Safe Drinking Water
Act or other environmental laws, DOD has sampled and cleaned up
munitions and munitions constituents. With regard to perchlorate, DOD
has issued sampling policies but cannot assure funding is provided for
such sampling. In some cases, DOD has sampled for perchlorate when
required under the Safe Drinking Water Act's Unregulated Contaminant
Monitoring Regulation and for other contaminants when directed by state
environmental agencies. However, DOD generally has not independently
taken actions specifically directed at cleaning up munitions
contaminants, such as perchlorate, on operational ranges when they have
been detected.

Why GAO Did This Study

For decades, the Department of Defense (DOD) has tested and fired
munitions on more than 24 million acres of operational ranges. Munition
constituents such as lead, trinitrotoluene (TNT), and perchlorate may
cause various health effects, including cancer. Concerned about the
potential cost to clean up munitions, Congress required DOD to estimate
the cost to clean up its operational ranges. 

You asked GAO to determine (1) how DOD identified the location and last
use of operational ranges and the basis for DOD's cost estimates for
cleaning up those ranges; and (2) DOD's policy to address contaminants
linked to the use of munitions on operational ranges and, where
contaminants such as perchlorate have been detected, what corrective
actions the military services have taken. 

What GAO Recommends

GAO recommends that DOD (1) revise its cost estimates for the cleanup of
operational ranges using its most complete range inventory and a
consistent estimating methodology, and (2) provide specific funding for
sampling at sites where perchlorate contamination is likely, in
accordance with DOD's policy requiring sampling. 

In commenting on this report, DOD disagreed with GAO's findings and
recommendations. GAO believes its findings are sound and its
recommendations are appropriate.

To download the entire report, go to
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-04-601.


-- 


Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org

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