Disposal Options for the Rocket Motors From Nerve Agent Rockets Stored at Blue Grass Army Depot (2012) / Chapter Skim
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5 Options for Disposal of Separated Rocket Motors
5 Options for Disposal of Separated Rocket Motors
Pages 47-64
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From page 47... ...
to dispose of rocket motors separated from the M55 rockets stored at BGAD. These options, which fall into two main groups, were evaluated by the committee: On-site disposal options, Open burning of the propellant grain at the BGAD permitted explosive hazardous waste treatment facility, Using the D-100 chamber currently at BGAD, Disposal using alternative technologies (technologies not currently resident at BGAD)
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From page 48... ...
Subpart X permit to dispose of waste energetics, the levels of lead in the M28 propellant grain could restrict the throughput of separated rocket motors. The open burning of the propellant grain option would have the following advantages: There would be no need to modify the existing permit or apply for a new one, provided lead releases do not exceed permitted levels; If open-burning operations could keep pace with rocket cutting operations at BGCAPP, the need for a large volume of long-term storage would be eliminated; SOPs are in place for open burning, though a modified SOP might be needed for open burning of the M28 propellant grain; There would be a significant reduction in the risk of endangerment by eliminating the long-term storage of a hazardous material of unknown stability; The steel case could be readily inspected, the removal of all energetic materials verified, and the case certified as safe for recycling; The inert components could be accumulated for subsequent bulk disposal; During thermal destruction, deflagration (burning)
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From page 49... ...
As currently designed, the D-100 detonation chamber is an explosive destruction technology, which is discussed in more detail in Chapter 3. CH2M HILL, the chamber manufacturer, and BGAD have proposed modifying this chamber to dispose of the separated rocket motors.3 The throughput estimate is as high as 180 separated rocket motors per day for the D-100 (NRC, 2009)
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From page 50... ...
The logistics associated with chamber cleanup and maintenance, motor stand preparation, and lead abatement activities will require an investment of time and resources to maintain the estimated throughput for this system. The chamber would need to meet environmental and explosives safety criteria, and BGAD would need to obtain a RCRA hazardous waste permit modification for disposal of separated rocket motors in this chamber.
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From page 51... ...
A D-100 detonation chamber is currently operational at the Blue Grass Army Depot to dispose of conventional munitions. It is possible that this could be modified and permitted to dispose of the separated rocket motors.
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From page 52... ...
The separated rocket motors could be stored and then disposed of using the BGCAPP base hydrolysis process after chemical agent destruction operations are complete. However, there is an increased storage risk inherent in this option.
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From page 53... ...
Public sentiment has been evolving positively regarding the use of explosive destruction technologies (discussed in Chapter 3) and perhaps, by extension, of any contained disposal technology to process chemical munitions and the waste streams resulting from chemical demilitarization operations, of which the separated rocket motors are one.
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From page 54... ...
If off-site disposal is pursued, Blue Grass Chemical AgentDestruction Pilot Plant program staff should allow off-site disposal facilities to tailor the mix of storage and disposal technologies that would allow for optimal, safe, and regulation-compliant disposal of the separated rocket motors. Finding 5-7.
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From page 55... ...
This is discussed in more detail in Appendix B SHIPPING AND FIRING TUBE MANAGEMENT One of the wastes from disposing of the separated rocket motors will be the SFTs, which will constitute a waste stream distinct from the separated rocket motors.
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From page 56... ...
Disposing of the separated rocket motors while they are still in the shipping and firing tubes would contaminate the resulting waste streams with polychlorinated biphenyls. Recommendation 5-4.
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From page 57... ...
Recommendation 5-6. When exploring off-site options for the disposal of the separated rocket motors, the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Facility Pilot Plant project management should ensure that potential receiving facilities are aware of the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls in the shipping and firing tubes.
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From page 58... ...
Transporting separated rocket motors off-site will require compliance with a variety of regulations and coordination with all state regulatory entities along the planned route. There are other requirements for transporting the separated rocket motors, including having an Environmental Protection Agency identification number, transfer facility requirements, manifesting and record keeping, and establishing actions to be taken in the event of hazardous waste discharges or spills.
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From page 59... ...
All off-site disposal options necessarily require removal of the separated rocket motors from government property and transportation on public roads or railways. There are numerous federal, state, and Army regulations governing the transportation of explosive hazardous waste, permits, and safety standards that must be met.
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From page 60... ...
BGAD has a permitted open-burning disposal site that might be able to meet the disposal requirements for the separated rocket motors. BGAD already has a RCRA Subpart X permit for disposal of explosive hazardous waste.
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From page 61... ...
If all separated rocket motors were sent off-site for disposal, BGAD would not need to establish, modify, or expand any rocket motor disposal facility and the associated permits. There are a number of disadvantages to the off-site disposal option: 61
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From page 62... ...
The BGCAPP project management anticipates that the demilitarization of the separated rocket motors will be a treaty requirement under the Chemical Weapons Convention. Any off-site facility that disposed of the separated rocket motors might therefore have to accept inspection and verification.
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From page 63... ...
2009. Assessment of Explosive Destruction Technologies for Specific Munitions at the Blue Grass and Pueblo Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plants.
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