Laboratory Evaluation of Remediation Alternatives for U.S. Coast Guard Small Arms Firing Ranges

• Main Author: ARMY ENGINEER WATERWAYS EXPERIMENT STATION VICKSBURG MS ENVIRONMENTAL LAB
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Subjects: COAST GUARD OPERATIONS; CONTAMINANTS; ELECTROKINETICS; FIRING TESTS(ORDNANCE); Logistics, Military Facilities and Supplies; RANGES(FACILITIES); SMALL ARMS AMMUNITION; SOIL REMEDIATION; Solid Wastes Pollution and Control; WASTE DISPOSAL

The purpose of this study was to identify and investigate technologies that may be effective in reducing soil contamination resulting from current or past U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) small arms firing range (SAFR) activities. The study identified USCG SAFRs and selected those that were either representative of typical USCG activities or were sites with a high probability that corrective measures would be needed in the near future. After the ranges were identified, soil samples were collected and evaluated to determine the effectiveness of physical and chemical treatment processes in removing metal contaminants from the soil. Both physical separation and extraction technologies appear to have merit when applied to the USCG soils. Physical separation and chemical extraction were not effective for all the soils, but each technology was effective for at least one of the soils tested. Electrokinetic remediation technology appears to be effective for all soils. Regardless of the technology applied, all the alternatives will produce a metal contaminated residual that will require disposal or additional treatment. The volume of this residual produced will depend on the technology applied and the amount of contamination in the soil.