MetalMapper Demonstration at the Ft. Sill, OK

摘要

Classification using the MetalMapper advanced electromagnetic sensor was demonstrated in conjunction with a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) at the Rocket Pond Range, Ft. Sill, OK in late 2011. This report summarizes the results of that demonstration. The document Implementing Classification on Munitions Response Sites (Ref. 1) provides practical information for deciding whether classification is appropriate to a particular site and how it is best implemented. Classification is motivated by the need to perform munitions response more cost-effectively so that limited clean up dollars can be used to reduce real risk on munitions-contaminated sites sooner. The estimated liability in the FY10 Defense Environmental Programs Report to Congress for Munitions Response is $15.2B. (Ref. 2) The bulk of this liability is $10.0B for the 1703 sites identified in the Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) program and $4.4B for the 2433 sites identified on Active Installations. The remaining $0.8B is in Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC). The estimated completion dates for many sites, particularly in the FUDS program, are decades out if they are to be cleaned up at planned funding levels using current practice. When a munitions response site is cleaned up, in most cases, it is mapped with a geophysical sensor and the locations of all detectable signals are excavated. Geophysical sensors detect metal and, therefore, many of the detections do not correspond to munitions, but rather to harmless metallic objects. Field experience indicates that 95-99% or more of objects are found to be nonhazardous. Current standard practice does not provide a means to discriminate between munitions and other items, termed clutter. As a result, most of the costs to remediate a munitions-contaminated site using current methods are spent on excavating targets that pose no threat.