Virginia Capes Range Complex Final Environmental Impact Statement

VACAPES Range Complex FEIS/OEISChapter 3 Affected Environment andEnvironmental Consequences3.2 – Haz Materials/Haz Wasteenvironment. Initial chemical by-product concentrations released during bomb detonation would disperserapidly in water and would be considered negligible (DoN, 2005b).Practice bombs entering the water would consist of materials like concrete, steel, and iron, and would notcontain the combustion chemicals found in the warheads of explosive bombs. These components areconsistent with the primary building blocks of artificial reef structures. The steel and iron, althoughdurable, would corrode over time, with no noticeable environmental impacts. The concrete is alsodurable and would offer a beneficial substrate for benthic organisms. After sinking to the bottom, thephysical structure of bombs would be incorporated into the marine environment by natural encrustationand/or sedimentation (DoN, 2006b).Refer to Section 3.3, Water Resources, for information regarding water quality.MissilesCharacteristics and Numbers of MissilesMissiles would be fired by aircraft, ships, and Naval Special Warfare (NSW) operatives at a variety ofairborne and surface targets on the VACAPES Study Area. In general, the single largest hazardousconstituent of missiles is solid propellant, which is primarily composed of rubber (polybutadiene) mixedwith ammonium perchlorate (for example, solid double-base propellant, aluminum and ammoniapropellant grain, and arcite propellant grain). Hazardous constituents are also used in igniters, explosivebolts, batteries (potassium hydroxide and lithium chloride), and warheads (for example, PBX-N highexplosivecomponents; PBXN-106 explosive; and PBX (AF)-108 explosive). Chromium or cadmiummay also be found in anti-corrosion compounds coating exterior missile surfaces.In the event of an ignition failure or other launch mishap, the rocket motor or portions of the unburnedpropellant may cause environmental effects. Experience with Hellfire missiles has shown that if therocket motor generates sufficient thrust to overcome the launcher hold-back, all of the rocket propellant isconsumed. In the rare cases where the rocket does not generate sufficient thrust to overcome the holdback(hang fire or miss fire), some propellant may remain unburned but the missile remains on thelauncher. Jettisoning the launcher is a possibility for hang fire or miss fire situations, but in most casesthe aircraft returns to base where the malfunctioning missile is handled by EOD personnel.Table 3.2-4 provides the approximate dimensions, weights, numbers, and types of missiles that would befired during operations in No Action Alternative missile exercises at the VACAPES Study Area searange. Approximately 27% of the 300 missiles that would be fired on the VACAPES Study Area searange each year would carry non-explosive practice warheads with no hazardous constituents.TABLE 3.2-4MISSILES FIRED UNDER THE NO ACTION ALTERNATIVEAT THE VACAPES STUDY AREA SEA RANGEMissile Name Designation TypeSparrow AIM-7 Air-to-airSidewinder AIM-9 Air-to-airAMRAAM Slammer AIM-120 Air-to-air~LaunchWeight(pounds)~Length(feet)~Diameter(inches)HE &a/ 500 12 8NEPMHE &NEPMHE &NEPM190 9.4 5350 12 7ASRAAM AIM-132 Air-to-air NEPM 220 9 73-23 March 2009