Makua Valley Military Munitions Response Program

                         Information Sheet    

February 2016

 

Military Munitions Response Program

Makua Training Area (TD) and Beach Assault Training Area, Oahu, Hawaii

The United States (U.S.) Congress established the Military Munitions Response Program (MMRP) under the Defense Environmental Restoration Program (DERP) to address munitions and explosives of concern (MEC), which are munitions that did not function properly, and munitions constituents (MC), which are contaminants associated with munitions released into the environment, located on closed or transferred military training areas. The DERP, including the MMRP, typically follows the Comprehensive Environmental   Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and National Contingency Plan (NCP).

A review of historical records identified two MMRP sites adjacent to the current Makua Military Reservation boundary. These are the transferred Makua Training Area (MTA [TD]) and the Beach Assault Training Area (BATA). Makua Military Reservation is not included in the MMRP as it is an active military installation.

MTA (TD) is approximately 855 acres of primarily undeveloped land, which includes Makua Beach, the Keawaula section of Kaena Point State Park, and the United States Air Force Kaena Point Satellite Tracking Station.

The BATA refers to approximately 23 acres located between Farrington Highway and Makua Beach. Both areas were used for live fire and maneuver training intermittently from the 1920’s until 1990.

Remedial Action

The remedial action (RA) objectives for this RA are to mitigate direct contact with potential surface and subsurface MEC by current and future receptors, including recreational users, trespassers, construction workers, and military personnel. MEC Hazard Areas were identified at BATA. The potential MEC hazard areas are presented in the figure below.

The overall RA approach includes the following:

• Development of DQOs and data needs through consultation with stakeholders.
• Stage vegetation clearance within each MEC hazard area within the MRS.
• A surface and subsurface clearance to the instrument detection limit (approximately 2 ft bgs) in 100% of the MEC hazard area of BATA Areas 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. The clearance areas 5, 7, and 9 will be divided into manageable 50-ft by 50-ft grids.

 

• The clearance activities will continue south outside the boundary of Area 5 by one grid width to verify previous boundary determination.
• Clearance areas 6 and 8 will consist of one lane running parallel North – South 25 feet off the edge of the road for the entire length of the area.
• Ensure that the surrounding area within the Hazard Fragment Distance (HFD) is clear of receptors during removal activities according to the Explosive Safety Submission (ESS).
• Controlled detonation of all MEC and MPPEH for disposal.
• Inspection and segregation of all MEC and MD and reclassification as MDAS, as appropriate, for recycling or smelting.
• Submittal of RAR with associated MEC information.
• Perform MEC Hazard Assessment for BATA MRS.
• Update MRS Priority Protocol (MRSPP) tables.At the conclusion of the RA, the areas within BATA MRS will be recommended for no further action (NFA).
• The final remedy provides the most beneficial potential land use by achieving an Unlimited Use/Unrestricted Exposure (UU/UE) designation upon completion of the response action.
• At the request of HDOH, community outreach will be performed for BATA MRS at the conclusion of the RA, and may be intertwined with the Hawaii Department of Parks on a regular basis for the continued education of the public about the potential for munitions within historical military training areas.Anticipated Work Schedule
• Remedial Action Field Activities:
  • Brush clearing: February 2016
  • Remedial Action Fieldwork: February-March 2016
• Remedial Action reporting and approval: August 2016 Ms. Carrie NelsonU.S. Army Garrison – Hawaii 948 Santos Dumont Ave, WAAF Schofield Barracks, HI 96857
• (808) 656-3092 carrie.nelson.civ@mail.mil
• Military Munitions Response Program Manager
• If you have any further questions, please contact: