Vieques Munitions Response: Current Issues NAOC General Membership Meeting December 7, 2016 Agenda Project Overview Surface Clearance Subsurface Clearance Remote Controlled Equipment Underwater MEC Open Detonation Risk Management
Strategic Approach Environmental Restoration Program at Vieques Top priorities safety, risk reduction, efficiency, cost effectiveness Munitions Clearance Land first (hazard higher on land than underwater) Ecological resources Protect endangered species, sensitive habitat Consultation with natural resources agencies (FWS, NMFS, NOAA, Puerto Rico DNER) Optimized Approaches Metal Mapper Underwater technologies Remote controlled equipment Digging and sifting Removal by magnet 2
Trespassing / Security Trespassing Summary Many observed trespassing incidents Navy has no jurisdiction for enforcement Navy Security Measures Boat support to enforce EZs during demo events Installation of waterway barrier, 2013 Coordination with Coast Guard, FWS, DNER, and PR law enforcement agencies South Channel Barrier 3
Munitions Clearance Progress to Date Surface clearance 3,700 acres cleared of munitions 96,500 MEC items removed Sub-surface clearance 9.5 miles of roads, 10.7 miles of beaches 7.3 million pieces of MPPEH picked up and processed Scrap metal 18.3 million lbs processed, 14.4 million lbs recycled 4
MPPEH Density
Path Forward Short term Continue to clear high risk areas on land Focus on beaches and other priority areas Remove underwater munitions in high risk areas Long term Complete work on land in 10 years Complete underwater work in 15 to 20 years Provide long term management 6
Surface Clearance Goal: support future land use, rather than clear every acre Fish and Wildlife Service has an official land use plan Strategic Approach Transects are investigated and cleared across the entire 15,000 acre area Surface clearance not performed in some areas due to Steep slopes (greater than 30 degrees) Endangered species / critical habitat Cultural / archaeological sites No future land use (or compatible land use) anticipated Example: Former OB/OD area in west Vieques MEC clearance around OB/OD pits and future public areas Picnic areas, hiking trails, observation tower, parking lot, beaches Dense vegetation limits access to uncleared areas Land Use Controls Permitted hunters and crabbers will receive UXO awareness training Information kiosks and signs 7
Subsurface Clearance Strategic Approach Clear roads to a depth of 2 feet, beaches to a depth of 4 feet Clear other areas only if needed to support FWS planned land use Estimate 1000 additional acres Methods Mag and dig when trees must be left in place DGM, Advanced Geophysical Classification (AGC) Hand dig or remote controlled excavator Excavator is cost effective in high density areas AGC advantages Less digging per anomaly Locate MEC for MC sampling Long term management (maybe) Reduced number of digs Pending regulator buy-in Even a small reduction could save significant cost 8
Remote Controlled Equipment On Vieques, bigger is better Xbox controller Attachments Mower, magnet, sifter, bucket, rake, etc. Uses Cut and rake vegetation So far only in submunitions area Pick up everything but submunitions with magnet Excavate and sift MEC from water holes on beaches May also work in surf zone Dig high density roads Sift debris Sift gravel 50% cost avoidance 9
Underwater Sites Near term strategy Wide Area Assessment in progress across 12,000 underwater acres Results will be used to prioritize underwater areas Removal actions for high visibility munitions items Long term strategy to be determined No method for evaluating explosive hazard of underwater munitions So far, regulators are willing to consider only presence of MEC and presence of receptors Uncertainty about appropriate remedial actions Blow in place currently not an option Encapsulation is difficult Water jet messy and uncertain Move to shore if possible Leave in place (are new technologies needed?) Ecological preservation vs. explosive hazard Safety for workers (divers) Sand movement to/from beaches Currently being studied to help determine cleanup strategy 10
Open Detonation MEC destroyed by open detonation Safest method for the site workers Conducted in a manner that is protective of human health and the environment 8 years of air monitoring show no effect on populated areas of Vieques Public concerns Pressure from local groups and media to use Controlled Detonation Chamber (CDC) Regulatory support Based on research and site specific data EPA, DOD, and agencies overseas have studied open detonations Air monitoring on Vieques is conclusive Detonations are miles from residential areas Most munitions on Vieques are too big or too dangerous to move to a CDC Difference between UXO and DMM 11
MEC Risk Management on Vieques Based on professional judgment Historical accidents Knowledge of past accidents can help prevent future accidents Comprehensive, up-to-date database of accident information is needed Types of encounters with MEC Not just exposure, but how people encounter munitions Prevent Picking It Up Approaches for risk reduction Clear surface MEC and perform LTM Construction support for subsurface MEC Dig for a reason Awareness / Education 3 R s and 1 D (Don t Pick It Up) MEC that has already left the site Minimize risk of working underwater Regulatory oversight by video rather than diving (NAVFAC policy) 12
MEC Risk Depends on the number of encounters and the likelihood of detonation Number of Encounters May be large (driving over subsurface MEC in a road) Encounter Types Drive over Step on, kick Hit (tent stake, shovel, heavy equipment, anchor) Heat (blowtorch, campfire, brush fire) Pick up (drop, throw, hit, take apart, heat) Probability of Detonation Can only estimate Depends on fuse type Some fuses are so sensitive they always pose unacceptable risk Depends on encounter type Pick up and heat vs. step on 13
Historical Accidents in the US 208 MEC incidents involving death or injury in US since 1910* Mostly men and boys (only one adult female) Mostly surface MEC Mostly on land Need to balance underwater MEC risk against risk of working underwater Mostly grenades, bazooka rockets, mortars, bombs, practice rounds Over half occurred off site (home, school, recycling facility, etc.) MDAS certification is critical 31 incidents involved clearance work by EOD, contractors, or soldiers By far, most encounters with MEC occur during cleanup operations Encounter type By far, most incidents occurred after MEC was picked up Heating was next *A Study of MEC-Related Civilian Incidents Associated with FUD Sites (ACOE, 2011) UXO Incident Report (EPA 2001), DPRA Inc. with data from DDESB and ATF 14
Questions? 15