Remote Excavation of Heavily Contaminated UXO Sites
Abstract
Many formerly used defense sites, base realignment and closure sites, and active ranges have areas that are heavily contaminated with munitions and explosives of concern (MEC) or unexploded ordnance (UXO), range residue, and contaminated soils. These areas include open burning/open detonation (OB/OD) areas, old or current target impact areas, strafing ranges, 40-mm ranges, and small arms ranges with very high concentrations of surface and subsurface metallic signatures that would reduce the effectiveness of digital geophysical mapping (DGM). Remediation or maintenance of these sites is hazardous, time-consuming, and expensive. A robust, remotely operated UXO excavation system such as the Range Master, with replaceable armor, chains, paddles, and screens, would provide a cost-effective tool to: * Remediate heavily contaminated UXO sites to depths of 12 inches below ground surface (bgs); * Clear range clutter and UXO for identification and disposal in a single pass; * Remove polluted soils for treatment or to perform deeper remote clearance operations as a design option to hold and carry excavated soils (Note that additional design and modifications are required to hold and carry excavated soils.); * Prepare and optimize heavily contaminated UXO sites for deeper and more effective DGM characterization and remediation. This project was developed in two phases. Phase I provided the primary technology integration of the base carrier and screening system that is manually operated. Phase II incorporated system armoring and remote control components. This report documents the Phase II costs and performance.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA518503
Entities
People
- Al Crandall
- Terry Northcutt