CHAPTER 8 DISPOSAL METHODS

TM 9-1300-277

CHAPTER 8

DISPOSAL METHODS

CAUTION

8-1. GENERAL

DISPOSAL BY OPEN BURNING WILL

a. One method of disposal is the process of

NOT BE UNDERTAKEN WHEN WIND

eliminating unwanted material/munition items from the

inventory by destruction.

VELOCITY EXCEEDS 15 MPH.

b. Disposal of certain munitions may be

NOTE

accomplished by burning or detonation.

General

Open burning of munitions may

procedures for each disposal method are included in the

chapter.

Specific procedures and additional

violate Federal, State, or Local

requirements are included in other chapters of this

Environmental Protection Agency

manual and in the specific Demilitarization Depot

(EPA) Regulations. Permission must

Maintenance Work Requirement (DMWR) for the item.

be obtained prior to start of burning

c. Disposal of munitions by burning or dumping in

operations.

wells, marshes, streams, inland waterways, landfills, or

pits is not authorized.

a. Disposal by burning may be accomplished on

d. Munitions with compatible characteristics and

the surface, in a pit, in a trench, or in a deactivation

similar disposal procedures may be disposed of in the

furnace in accordance with the following paragraphs.

same operation, if permitted by the applicable

Munitions to be burned will be examined carefully to

demilitarization DMWR. The DMWR index is identified

make certain that no removable detonators or blasting

in Chapter 7.

caps are included. All removable detonators, blasting

caps, etc., will be removed from munitions to be burned

8-2. BURNING ON THE SURFACE

to avoid unexpected detonation. Sites will not be left

unattended during burning, but will be observed from the

specified safety distance.

WARNING

b. Surface burning is an expeditious method of

BURNING HIGH EXPLOSIVES WHEN

disposing of munitions such as, noninitiating high

INITIATORS OF ANY DESCRIPTION

explosives and solid propellants.

Before surface

burning is accomplished, the area must be surveyed to

ARE INCLUDED WILL PROBABLY

assure that the ground is perfectly smooth, free of loose

RESULT IN A DETONATION. WHEN

material, without cracks or crevices, and is packed

BURNING EXPLOSIVES AND/OR

sufficiently to prevent explosive materials from

MUNITIONS, PROTECTION AGAINST

infiltrating during burning operations.

Hazardous

THE

POSSIBILITY

materials must also be considered on an individual basis

DETONATION MUST ALWAYS BE

as to the depth that it can be stacked or positioned in

TAKEN.

MIXING OF VARIOUS

order to prevent an unwanted detonation. Usually bulk

TYPES OF BULK EXPLOSIVES WILL

explosives/propellants/pyrotechnic materials are spread

NOT

PERMITTED

DURING

in a thin layer over a combustible bed in order to

BURNING OPERATIONS.

SINCE

facilitate a proper burning environment.

Surface

EXPLOSIVES CONTAIN THEIR OWN

burning operations will not be

OXIDIZER, BURNING EXPLOSIVES

CANNOT BE EXTINGUISHED BY

SMOTHERING.

BURNING OF ICM'S WILL NOT BE

UNDERTAKEN AS THIS COULD

CAUSE SCATTERING OR EJECTION

OF CARGO.

SCATTERED OR-

EJECTED CARGO IS CONSIDERED

ARMED AND HAZARDOUS.

8-1