[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 54 (Wednesday, March 20, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12937-12938]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-6419]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

32 CFR Part 179


Development of a Munitions Response Site Prioritization Protocol

AGENCY: Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Installations 
& Environment), DoD.

ACTION: Advanced notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: In response to Section 311 of the Fiscal Year 2002 National 
Defense Authorization Act, the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of 
Defense (Installations & Environment), U.S. Department of Defense 
(DoD), announces its intention to develop a proposed site 
prioritization protocol for assigning to each defense site 
(hereinafter, munitions response site) a relative priority for response 
activities related to unexploded ordnance, discarded military 
munitions, and munitions constituents. Section 311 lists specific 
factors to be included in the protocol. DoD is requesting input from 
interested parties on: These factors; any additional factors to 
consider in developing a site prioritization protocol; how the proposed 
protocol should incorporate such factors as they relate to safety and 
environmental hazards; and recommendations on any existing 
prioritization methods, models, or tools that should be evaluated. DoD 
will also request comments on the proposed site prioritization protocol 
when it is available for review later this year.

DATES: Suggestions are requested through May 20, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Written suggestions on factors to consider in the 
development of the site prioritization protocol should be sent to: 
United States Department of Defense, Office of the Deputy Under 
Secretary of Defense (I&E)/CL, ATTN: Proposed Site Prioritization 
Protocol, 3400 Defense Pentagon, Room 3C765, Washington, DC 20301-3400.
    This address must be used when submitting input by U.S. Postal 
Service Express Mail. Input will also be accepted via electronic e-mail 
at 
https://www.denix.osd.mil/MMRP.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia Ferrebe, 703-695-6107. 
Information regarding the schedule for developing the proposed site 
prioritization protocol, along with relevant background information, is 
available on the DENIX web site at https://www.denix.osd.mil./MMRP.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 311 of the Fiscal Year 2002 National 
Defense Authorization Act requires the DoD to develop, in consultation 
with representatives of the States and Indian Tribes, a proposed and 
final protocol for assigning to each defense site (munitions response 
site) a relative priority for response activities based on the overall 
conditions at each site. Section 311 provides for public notice and 
comment on the proposed protocol; requires that the proposed protocol 
be available for public comment on or before November 30, 2002; and 
directs DoD to issue a final protocol to be applied to defense sites 
listed in the Department's munitions response site inventory. As an 
initial step in developing the protocol, DoD seeks public input early 
in the development process prior to the public's opportunity to review 
and comment on the proposed protocol in November. DoD will also seek 
input from State, Tribal, EPA, and Federal Land Managers. DoD will 
consider this input during development of the proposed protocol.
    Based on the requirements above, DoD intends to accomplish the 
following overall objectives with respect to development of a site 
prioritization protocol for munitions response sites:
     Prepare, in consultation with the States, and Indian 
Tribes, a proposed and final protocol per the requirements in Section 
311 of the Fiscal Year 2002 National Defense Authorization Act.
     Publish the proposed protocol and provide a formal 60-day 
public comment period.
     Apply the final protocol to munitions response sites 
listed on its inventory.
    Section 311 lists specific factors that may be considered when 
assigning a relative priority to munitions response sites. These 
factors may include:
     Whether there are known, versus suspected, unexploded 
ordnance, discarded military munitions, or munitions constituents on 
all or any portion of the defense site and the types of unexploded 
ordnance, discarded military munitions, or munitions constituents 
preset or suspected to be present.
     Whether public access to the defense site is controlled, 
and the effectiveness of these controls.
     The potential for direct human contact with exploded 
ordnance, discarded military munitions, or munitions constituents at 
the defense site and evidence of people entering the site.
     Whether a response action has been or is being undertaken 
at the defense site under the Formerly Used Defense Sites program or 
other program.
     The planned or mandated dates for transfer of the defense 
site from military control.
     The extent of any documented incidents involving 
unexploded ordnance, discarded military munitions, or munitions 
constituents at or from the defense site, including incidents involving 
explosions, discoveries, injuries, reports, and investigations.
     The potential for drinking water contamination or the 
release for munitions constituents into the air.
     The potential for destruction of sensitive echo systems 
and damage to natural resources. To better understand public concerns 
with regard to munitions response sites, DoD is soliciting early public 
input on:
     Additional factors to be considered.
     Existing prioritization methods.
     Other comments for developing the prioritization protocol.

Background

    To ensure their readiness to protect and defend our nation, our 
Military forces conduct live-fire training and testing with weapon 
systems at ranges throughout the United States. As a result, some 
properties that DoD has historically used to meet its live-fire 
training and testing requirements have been found or are suspected to 
contain unexploded ordnance, discarded military munitions, or munitions 
constituents. This is the situation on many properties where DoD no 
longer plans to use military munitions.
    DoD's challenge on these munitions response sites is to: (1) 
Protect human health and the environment; (2) identify where and how 
much of this material is present at munitions response sites; (3) set 
priorities for conducting response actions at these sites; and (4) 
conduct necessary response actions for these sites. To address these 
and other challenges, DoD is developing a comprehensive program to 
address munitions--response sites.

Relevant Definitions

    Section 311 defines key term that delineate DoD's program to 
address munitions response sites. These terms are:
    ``Defense site'' applies to locations that are or were owned by, 
leased to, or otherwise possessed or used by the Department of Defense. 
The term does

[[Page 12938]]

not include any operational range, operating storage or manufacturing 
facility, or facility that is used for or was permitted for the 
treatment or disposal of military munitions.
    ``Discarded military munitions'' includes military munitions that 
have been abandoned without proper disposal or removed from storage in 
a military magazine or other storage area for the purpose of disposal. 
The term does not include unexploded ordnance, military munitions that 
are being held for future use or planned disposal, or military 
munitions that have been properly disposed of, consistent with 
applicable environmental laws and regulations.
    ``Military munitions'' consists of all ammunition products and 
components produced for or used by the armed forces for national 
defense and security, including ammunition products or components under 
the control of Department of Defense, the Coast Guard, the Department 
of Energy, and the National Guard. The term includes confined gaseous, 
liquid, and solid propellants, explosives, pyrotechnics, chemical and 
riot control agents, smokes, and incendiaries, including bulk explosive 
and chemical warfare agents, chemical munitions, rockets, guided and 
ballistic missiles, bombs, warheads, mortar rounds, artillery 
ammunition, small arms ammunition, grenades, mines, torpedoes, depth 
charges, cluster munitions and dispensers, demolition charges, and 
devices and components thereof. The term does not include wholly inert 
items, improvised explosive devices, and nuclear weapons, nuclear 
devices, and nuclear components, except that the term does include 
nonnuclear components of nuclear devices that are managed under the 
nuclear weapons program of the Department of Energy after all required 
sanitization operations under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 
2011 et seq.) have been completed.
    ``Munitions constituents'' means any materials originating from 
unexploded ordnance, discarded military munitions, or other military 
munitions, including explosive and nonexplosive materials, and 
emission, degradation, or breakdown elements of such ordnance or 
munitions.
    ``Munitions response sites'' means defense sites that contain 
unexploded ordnance, discarded military munitions, and munitions 
constituents.
    ``Unexploded ordnance'' includes military munitions that--
     Have been primed, fused, armed, or otherwise prepared for 
action;
     Have been fired, dropped, launched, projected, or placed 
in such a manner as to constitute a hazard to operations, 
installations, personnel, or material; and
     Remain unexploded either by malfunction, design, or any 
other cause.

    Dated: March 12, 2002.
Patricia L. Toppings,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 02-6419 Filed 3-19-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-08-M