[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 111 (Thursday, June 8, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36423-36424]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-14418]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Interim Range Rule Risk Methodology (IR3M), Supporting DOD's 
Range Rule

AGENCY: Department of Defense (DoD).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The DoD is making available the Interim Range Rule Risk 
Methodology (IR3M). DoD has developed this guidance document to provide 
a consistent methodology to assess and manage risks posed by military 
munitions, unexploded ordnance, and other constituents. In developing 
this methodology, DOD consulted with U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency and various federal, state, tribal, and public interest group 
stakeholders. The IR3M assists decisionmakers in the selection of 
appropriate response actions on closed, transferred, and transferring 
military ranges covered under DoD's rule regarding Closed, Transferred, 
and Transferring Ranges Containing Military Munitions (also known as 
DoD Range Rule) to be codified at 32 CFR 178. The IR3M guidance 
document is available on the World Wide Web at: http://www.acq.osd.mil/ens/.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the IR3M may also be requested from, and comments 
may be submitted to: Interim R3M Comments (MSR-3-3), c/o Science 
Applications International Corporation, 11251 Roger Bacon Drive, 
Reston, VA 20190.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: R3M Hotline at (888) 541-1081, e-mail: 
[email protected], or telephone Scott Hill at (410) 436-7085.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DoD proposed the DoD Range Rule to 
identify a process for evaluating responses to risks from military 
munitions, unexploded ordnance, and associated materials on closed, 
transferred, and transferring (CTT) military ranges (62 FR 50795, 
September 26, 1997). The DoD Range Rule requires that response actions 
fully consider explosives safety hazards, are protective of human 
health and the environment, and address risks based upon reasonably 
anticipated future land use. The DoD Range Rule contains a process that 
is not inconsistent with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). It is tailored to the special 
risks posed by military munitions at the ranges that are no longer used 
or needed by the military for future training.
    In the Proposed DoD Range Rule, DOD proposed to develop, in 
consultation with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other 
stakeholders, a risk assessment model/protocol to address risks from 
military munitions, unexploded ordnance (UXO), and other constituents. 
DOD proposed to incorporate, to the maximum extent possible, the EPA's 
procedures to assess acute and chronic risks posed by releases at sites 
regulated under CERCLA and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 
(RCRA). The process described in this Interim Range Rule Risk 
Methodology (IR3M), is intended to satisfy, in part, the need for 
tools, models, and protocols to support decisionmaking under the DoD 
Range Rule.
    In developing the IR3M, DOD established a Partnering Initiative to 
solicit input from a wide range of interested stakeholders. The 
Partnering Initiative includes representatives from DOD, EPA, federal 
land managers, state regulatory authorities, American Indian tribal 
governments, and several other organizations. The IR3M supports the 
process set forth in the DoD Range Rule and meets the following goals 
for the process, as established by the Partnering Initiative:

{time}  Protect human health and the environment
{time}  Minimize explosive safety risks to all personnel, including 
response personnel
{time}  Emphasize risk reduction
{time}  Identify threats from unexploded ordnance (UXO), explosives, 
and other constituents
{time}  Focus on informed risk management decision-making, adequately 
supported with appropriate data
{time}  Incorporate the National Contingency Plan's (NCP) nine criteria 
for evaluating response alternatives and consider reasonably 
anticipated future land uses
{time}  Promote Federal and State regulator, tribal, and other 
stakeholders' involvement in order to achieve the greatest possible 
level of mutual understanding
{time}  Consider the limitations of existing technology and promote the 
development and application of new technologies
{time}  Complete response when the site-specific response objectives 
identified within the risk-based decision document have been attained
{time}  During the recurring review phase of a response action, 
reevaluate response actions to determine if the risk assumptions were 
appropriate and whether conditions remain protective. Evaluate any 
finding of technical impracticality against new technology to determine 
if risk reduction can be attained, and/or performance can be maintained 
at significantly reduced costs
{time}  Continue to respond appropriately to safety and environmental 
contamination problems discovered following administrative close-out
{time}  Define risk attributed to military munitions as a function of 
exposure, detonation, and potential consequences of detonation, 
although the risk may not always be quantifiable
{time}  Ensure process continuously improved upon by drawing upon 
lessons learned in related environmental programs

    To achieve these goals, the Partnering Initiative split the R3M 
development into two parts--an Interim R3M and a Final R3M. The Interim 
R3M focuses on risk reduction and is aimed at the assessment and 
development of response actions at the ranges subject to the DoD Range 
Rule. The Interim R3M

[[Page 36424]]

identifies a process, tools, models, and protocols that decisionmakers 
may use to manage, assess, and communicate risks associated with 
military munitions, UXO, and other constituents at closed, transferred, 
and transferring ranges. This process resembles the risk-based 
decisionmaking process under CERCLA and the National Contingency Plan 
(NCP).
    The Final R3M will refine the procedures in the Interim R3M and 
will contain the additional elements necessary to complete the range 
response process. Specifically, the Final R3M will address Recurring 
Reviews and Administrative Close-out, two of the response phases 
spelled out in the DoD Range Rule, which are not fully developed in the 
Interim R3M.

    Dated: June 2, 2000.
Patricia L. Toppings,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 00-14418 Filed 6-7-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-10-M