Virginia Capes Range Complex Final Environmental Impact Statement

VACAPES Range Complex FEIS/OEISUnderwater DetonationsChapter 3 Affected Environment andEnvironmental Consequences3.2 – Haz Materials/Haz WasteCharacteristics and Numbers of Underwater DetonationsMost underwater detonations during VACAPES Study Area operations would be associated with mineneutralization exercises. Explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) detachments place explosive charges nextto or on non-explosive practice mines. Charges used by EOD divers consist of 20-lb explosives. Thesecharge sizes reflect the size of charges EOD divers use to detonate mines in combat or real-worldconditions.The combustion products from the detonation of high explosives are commonly found in seawater andinclude carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), hydrogen gas (H 2 ), water (H 2 O), nitrogen gas (N 2 ),and ammonia (NH 3 ). The primary contaminants that would be released from explosives used in minewarfare training are nitroaromatic compounds such as TNT, RDX, and HMX (URS et al. 2000). Refer toSection 3.3, Water Resources, for details regarding water quality.Under the No Action Alternative, 12 20-lb charges would be used per year.Underwater Detonations Fate and TransportInitial concentrations of explosion by-products are not expected to be hazardous to marine life(DoN, 2001) and would not accumulate in the training area because exercises are spread out over timeand chemicals rapidly disperse in the ocean. Therefore, no adverse effects from chemical by-productswould be expected. Refer to Section 3.3, Water Resources, for details regarding water quality.3.2.3.2 Alternative 1Under Alternative 1, VACAPES Study Area training operations would increase from current levels insupport of the Fleet Readiness Training Plan (FRTP). While the number of training operations wouldincrease, no new training activities, such as weapons firing or target deployment, would be introduced.Under Alternative 1, as compared to the No Action Alternative, MEM use of:High-explosive bombs would remain the same;Non-explosive practice bombs would increase 4 percent;Air-to-surface high-explosive missiles would increase 39 percent;Air-to-air high-explosive missiles would increase 12 percent;Non-explosive practice missiles would increase 10 percent;Expended targets would increase 10 percent;Marine markers (smoke floats) would increase 65 percent;High-explosive ammunition would remain the same;Non-explosive practice naval gun ammunition would increase by 8 percent;Small-arms ammunition would increase 32 percent;CIWS ammunition would increase 11 percent;Grenades would increase 11 percent;Chaff rounds would increase 12 percent;Defensive/decoy flares would increase 77 percent; and20-lb charges would increase 100 percent.Amounts of MEM would increase in rough proportion to the increases in training operations shown inTables 2.2-4 and 2.2-5. A summary of ordnance use and increase by training area is provided in Table2.2-6.Vessels, aircraft, and other military assets employed in training operations would carry and use hazardousmaterials for routine operation and maintenance. Increases in hazardous materials transport, storage, anduse to support increased training operations under Alternative 1 would be managed in compliance with3-29 March 2009