Distribution and Fate of Energetics on Distribution and Fate of Energetics on DoD Test and Training RangesDoD Test and Training Ranges

CPCP--11551155

Judith C. PenningtonJudith C. PenningtonU.S. Army Engineer Research and Development CenterU.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center

Environmental LaboratoryEnvironmental Laboratory

Blast at SNL

Sampling near tank targetSampling near tank targetYakimaYakima

Sampling snow,Sampling snow,Ethan AllenEthan Allen

Sampling hand grenade range Sampling hand grenade range Ft. LewisFt. Lewis

Presented at Geological Society of America National Meeting. November 1-10. Boston, MA.

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PERFORMERSPERFORMERS

•• Drs. Judith C. Pennington, James M. BrannonDrs. Judith C. Pennington, James M. BrannonU.S. Army Engineer Research and Development CenterU.S. Army Engineer Research and Development CenterEnvironmental Laboratory, Vicksburg, MSEnvironmental Laboratory, Vicksburg, MS

•• Dr. Thomas F. Jenkins Dr. Thomas F. Jenkins U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development CenterU.S. Army Engineer Research and Development CenterCold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, Hanover, NH Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, Hanover, NH

•• Dr. Sonia Dr. Sonia ThiboutotThiboutotDefence Research Establishment Defence Research Establishment ValcartierValcartier, Canada, Canada

•• Mr. John E. DelaneyMr. John E. DelaneyNavy Explosives Ordnance Disposal Technology Division, IndianNavy Explosives Ordnance Disposal Technology Division, IndianHead, MDHead, MD

•• Mr. Jay ClausenMr. Jay ClausenAMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc., Westford, MAAMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc., Westford, MA

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TECHNICAL OBJECTIVETECHNICAL OBJECTIVE

Provide techniques to assess the potential for Provide techniques to assess the potential for groundwater contamination from residues of groundwater contamination from residues of energetic materials (TNT, PETN, NG, RDX, and energetic materials (TNT, PETN, NG, RDX, and HMX) at test and training ranges.HMX) at test and training ranges.

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Evaluating Energetics Evaluating Energetics ContaminationContamination

–– Determine what energetics can be Determine what energetics can be expected from specific range activitiesexpected from specific range activities–– Determine what distribution and Determine what distribution and concentrations of energetics are associated concentrations of energetics are associated with specific range activitieswith specific range activities–– Develop a scientifically appropriate Develop a scientifically appropriate sampling regime to overcome site sampling regime to overcome site heterogeneitiesheterogeneities–– Determine effects of climate/geology on Determine effects of climate/geology on transport potentialtransport potential

Composite sampling, YakimaComposite sampling, Yakima

Sampling crater, Ft. LewisSampling hand grenade range

Ft. Lewis

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Fate and TransportFate and Transport

–– Review existing data and identify data gaps in process descripReview existing data and identify data gaps in process descriptorstors–– Determine appropriate descriptors in the laboratory Determine appropriate descriptors in the laboratory

•• Dissolution kineticsDissolution kinetics •• Partitioning coefficientsPartitioning coefficients •• Transformation ratesTransformation rates•• Adsorption kinetics Adsorption kinetics •• Desorption kineticsDesorption kinetics •• Degradation ratesDegradation rates

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Controlled DetonationsControlled Detonations•• High order detonationsHigh order detonations

–– Confined and unconfinedConfined and unconfined–– Comparison of residues from Comparison of residues from

detonations using C4 and detonations using C4 and shape chargesshape charges

–– Residues on snowResidues on snow

•• Low order detonationsLow order detonations–– Various degrees based on Various degrees based on

energy yieldenergy yield–– Confined and unconfinedConfined and unconfined

•• Unconfined chargesUnconfined charges–– Detonation of specific mass Detonation of specific mass

and shapes of 5 munitionsand shapes of 5 munitions–– Fixed mass/shape with various Fixed mass/shape with various

initiations (C4, shape charges, initiations (C4, shape charges, direction of detonator)direction of detonator)

Ruptured 155-mm shell, Yakima

500-lb bomb low order

TNT

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Firing Range Firing Range Source TermSource Term

40-mm UXO UXOExcavated mortars

•• Historical firing recordsHistorical firing records•• Dud and low order ratesDud and low order rates•• Actual range dataActual range data

Comparisons to Findings at Comparisons to Findings at Massachusetts Military ReservationMassachusetts Military Reservation

• Typical or unique?

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Field Sampling to DateField Sampling to Date•• Fort Lewis, WAFort Lewis, WA

–– Heavy artillery rangeHeavy artillery range–– Hand grenade rangeHand grenade range–– Heavy artillery firing pointsHeavy artillery firing points–– Groundwater monitoring wellsGroundwater monitoring wells

•• Yakima Training Center, WAYakima Training Center, WA–– Impact cratersImpact craters

•• Heavy artillery Heavy artillery •• AntitankAntitank

–– Firing pointsFiring points•• Heavy artilleryHeavy artillery•• Antitank rangeAntitank range•• 120120--mm tanksmm tanks•• MortarsMortars

–– Surface waterSurface water–– Water supply wellsWater supply wells–– Claymore mineClaymore mine

•• Camp Guernsey, WYCamp Guernsey, WY–– Heavy artillery rangesHeavy artillery ranges–– Heavy artillery firing pointsHeavy artillery firing points–– Demolitions “blowDemolitions “blow--inin--place”place”–– Surface waterSurface water

•• Shilo Shilo Canadian Force BaseCanadian Force Base–– Unconfined chargeUnconfined charge–– Range samplingRange sampling

•• Hand grenade rangesHand grenade ranges–– Fort Leonard Wood, MOFort Leonard Wood, MO–– Fort Wayne Wright, AKFort Wayne Wright, AK–– Fort Richardson, AKFort Richardson, AK–– Camp Bonneville, WACamp Bonneville, WA

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DissolutionDissolution

RDX (pure) RDX (Comp B)

RD

X D

isso

lutio

n ra

te, u

g/cm

2 /sec

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

HMX (pure) HMX (LX-14) HMX (octol)

HM

X D

isso

luti

on

rat

e, u

g/c

m2 /s

ec

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

TNT (pure) TNT (Octol) TNT (Comp B)

TN

T D

isso

lutio

n ra

te, u

g/cm

2 /sec

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

Source: LTC Jason Lynch and Dr. James M. Brannon, Florida State Source: LTC Jason Lynch and Dr. James M. Brannon, Florida State University and University and U. S. Army Engineer R& D Center Environmental Laboratory, respecU. S. Army Engineer R& D Center Environmental Laboratory, respectivelytively

OctolOctol: 70% HMX, 30% TNT Comp B: 59.5 % RDX, 39.5% TNT, 1% wax : 70% HMX, 30% TNT Comp B: 59.5 % RDX, 39.5% TNT, 1% wax LXLX--14 95.5% HMX, 4.5% 14 95.5% HMX, 4.5% EstaneEstane

PurePure

PurePure

OctolOctol

Comp BComp B

Comp BComp B

PurePure

LXLX--1414 OctolOctol

TNTTNT HMXHMXRDXRDX

Mean of 3 replicatesMean of 3 replicatesat 20 at 20 ooC C and and 150 rpm stirring rate150 rpm stirring rate

Fate and TransportFate and Transport

Time, hrs0 20 40 60 80S

olu

tio

n C

on

cen

trat

ion

, mg

/L

0

20

40

60

80

100

Anaerobic Sharkey ClayAerobic Sharkey ClayAnaerobic LAAP DAerobic LAAP D

TNT Adsorption Kinetics

Solution Concentration, mg L-12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10S

oil

Co

nce

ntr

atio

n, m

g K

g-1

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

SM SoilCL SoilSP-SM SoilML SoilRegression

RDX RDX KKddss

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ConclusionsConclusionsTo DateTo Date

105105--mm muzzlemm muzzle

Hand grenade pitHand grenade pit

• Firing PointsFiring Points: Potential for propellant residues : Potential for propellant residues •• Impact Craters from High Order DetonationsImpact Craters from High Order Detonations: :

Concentrations relatively lowConcentrations relatively low•• Low Order DetonationsLow Order Detonations: Very high local: Very high local

concentrations; potential point source of concentrations; potential point source of contaminationcontamination

•• Grenade RangesGrenade Ranges: Relatively high concentrations; : Relatively high concentrations; relatively uniformly distributed (On a mass loading relatively uniformly distributed (On a mass loading basis, may be the most significantly contaminated basis, may be the most significantly contaminated location.)location.)

•• Sampling:Sampling: Compositing will be necessary to obtain Compositing will be necessary to obtain representative samples representative samples

•• SubsamplingSubsampling:: Proper Proper subsamplingsubsampling is essential for is essential for obtaining representative samples obtaining representative samples

•• Analysis:Analysis: Method 8330 is inadequate for artilleryMethod 8330 is inadequate for artilleryrange characterization where concentrations arerange characterization where concentrations aretypically low ppb; Method 8095 more appropriatetypically low ppb; Method 8095 more appropriate(dl=1ppb)(dl=1ppb)

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ApplicationsApplicationsExamples of range management practices that may be Examples of range management practices that may be suggested for sustained range usesuggested for sustained range use

–– Locate and remove low order detonations and dudsLocate and remove low order detonations and duds–– Periodically remediate surface soils of hand grenadePeriodically remediate surface soils of hand grenade

rangesranges–– Develop a groundwater monitoring plan andDevelop a groundwater monitoring plan and

contingency planscontingency plans