Virginia Capes Range Complex Final Environmental Impact Statement

VACAPES Range Complex FEIS/OEISChapter 3 Affected Environment andEnvironmental Consequences3.2 – Haz Materials/Haz WasteAmounts of MEM would increase and decrease in rough proportion to the increases and decreases intraining operations shown in Tables 2.2-4 and 2.2-5. A summary of ordnance use by training area isprovided in Table 2.2-6.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 2 would be managed in compliance withapplicable laws and regulations. No new types of hazardous materials would be required. Existinghazardous materials storage and handling facilities, equipment, supplies, and procedures would continueto provide for adequate management of these materials. No releases of hazardous materials to theenvironment and no unplanned exposures of personnel to hazardous materials are anticipated under thisalternative.The amounts of hazardous waste generated by normal vessel and aircraft operation and maintenanceduring training under Alternative 2 would be about the same as those generated under the No ActionAlternative. The amounts of hazardous waste generated by training operations under Alternative 2 wouldbe incrementally greater than those under the No Action Alternative. All hazardous waste would continueto be managed in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. No changes in hazardous materialsmanagement practices are anticipated under Alternative 2.3.2.3.4 Unavoidable Significant Environmental EffectsThe analysis presented above indicates that Alternatives 1 and 2 would not result in unavoidablesignificant adverse effects.3.2.3.5 Summary of Environmental Effects (NEPA and EO 12114)Hazardous material, waste, and MEM used and generated during VACAPES Study Area operationswould be managed in accordance with applicable federal and state regulations and DoD serviceguidelines. Any spills or mishaps would be handled pursuant to all applicable federal and state laws andDoD regulations.Military munitions are not considered hazardous waste when used for their intended purposes, whichinclude training of military personnel and research and development activities. This includes almost allmissiles, munitions, and targets used at the VACAPES Study Area. A review of the use of munitions andtargets was conducted and their hazardous constituents’ disposition was analyzed. The components thatcontain hazardous constituents include propellants, batteries, flares, telemetry, igniters, jet fuel, dieselfuel, hydraulic fluid, and explosive warheads.Non-hazardous expended material is defined as all parts of a device made of nonreactive materials,including parts made of metals such as steel or aluminum; polymers such as nylon, rubber, vinyl, andplastics; glass; fiber; and concrete. While these items represent persistent seabed litter, their strongresistance to degradation and their chemical composition mean that they do not chemically contaminatethe surrounding environment by leaching heavy metals or organic compounds. Expended material thatsinks to the sea floor would gradually degrade, be overgrown by marine life, and/or be incorporated intothe sediments. Floating non-hazardous expended material may be lost from target boats and would eitherdegrade over time or wash ashore as flotsam.MEM would introduce small amounts of potentially hazardous chemicals into the marine environment.The water quality analysis of all current and proposed operations indicates that concentrations ofconstituents of concern associated with material expended in the VACAPES Range Complex under allthree alternatives would be well below water quality criteria established to protect aquatic life (seeSection 3.3, Water Resources).3-31 March 2009