Evaluation of the Contamination by Explosives in Soils, Biomass and Surface Water at Cold Lake Air Weapons Range (CLAWR), Alberta, Phase 1 Report
Abstract
This work describes the evaluation of the impacts of the live firing training activities in Cold Lake Air Weapons Range (CLAWR) in Alberta performed during August 02 (Phase I). CLAWR is the biggest air weapon range area in Canada and was the first Canadian Air Force Base to be characterized for explosives and metals. The study was conducted by DRDC-Valcartier in collaboration with the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Cold Regions Research Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), Hanover, NH, and the ERDC Environmental Laboratory (EL), Vicksburg, MS. The problem of Army ranges should be different from that of Air ranges since the Air weapons are different even if filled with the same explosives. Four ranges on the site were visited during August 2002. Alpha, Bravo, Jimmy Lake and Shaver Ranges were sampled for explosives using different strategies. More particularly, intensive efforts were done in the Shaver Range since this range was used mainly for air bombing. A linear transect sampling strategy was used in all ranges to evaluate the progression in explosives concentrations across the ranges. All the samples were built by compositing 20-30 sub-samples. A new circular sampling strategy adapted to the air-bombing situation was achieved by collecting 26 samples around the targets at specific locations. Some soil samples were also collected at different depths in front of the targets. In total, 193 soil samples, 13 biomass samples, and 4 surface water samples were collected during this first phase of the evaluation of this area. Metal analyses were done using Inductively Coupled Plasma /Mass spectrometer (ICP/MS) and explosives concentrations were done using the Gas Chromatography/Electron Capture Detector (GC/ECD) method developed at CRREL.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA609176
Entities
People
- A. Gagnon
- A. Hewitt
- A. Marois
- G. Ampleman
- J. C. Pennington
- James W. Lewis
- M. Bouchard
- S. Jean
- S. Thiboutot
- T. Jenkins
Organizations
- Engineer Research and Development Center