ITRC Publishes Guidance Document on Geophysical Classification for Munitions Response (GCMR)Thousands of military or former military sites across the nation are contaminated with unexploded ordnance, discarded military munitions, and other munitions and explosives of concern. Clean up is expected to cost $14 billion. Geophysical classification is a new, cutting-edge technology, in which buried metal items (such as scrap metal or unexploded ordnance) are detected on a site. With the use of new instruments and advanced geophysics, the buried items are classified to determine whether they are munitions that should be removed or metal clutter, debris, or geology that can be left in the ground. This web-based guidance document explains the process of geophysical classification, describes its benefits and limitations, and most importantly discusses the information and data needed by regulators to monitor and evaluate the use of the technology. This document also emphasizes using a systematic planning process to develop data acquisition and decision strategies at the outset of a munitions response effort, as well as quality considerations throughout the project. Stakeholder issues that are unique to munitions response are also discussed. The Geophysical Classification for Munitions Response guidance document is available at http://itrcweb.org/gcmr-2. A corresponding internet-based training course will be offered beginning in November 2015.
[Note: I was a member of the work team that produced this document. -LS] Lenny
--
Lenny Siegel Executive Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight a project of the Pacific Studies Center 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041 Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545 Fax: 650/961-8918
|