Depleted Uranium Munitions Action Plan--Ground Zero Center for Non-Violent Action

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Depleted Uranium Munitions Action Plan

Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action, Poulsbo, Washington Website: www.gzcenter.org E-mail: info Traprock Peace Center, Deerfield, Massachusetts Website: www.traprockpeace.org E-mail: traprock Military Toxics Project, Lewiston, Maine Website: www.miltoxproj.org Email: mtp Nukewatch, Luck, Wisconsin Website: www.nukewatch.com E-mail: nukewatch The United States military does not want civilian populations to know how and when depleted uranium (DU) munitions are being shipped through their communities for fear of "unnecessary public concern about the radiation risks associated with DU munitions." Normally this type of shipment would be labeled with both Department of Transportation (DOT) "Radioactive" and "Explosive" placards. Branches of the U.S. military, however, have a special Department of Transportation exemption, DOT-E 9649, which allows them to ship DU munitions without the "Radioactive" placard. The exemption must be renewed every few years by the DOT and the Military Traffic Management Command. The current DU munitions shipping exemption expires on June 30, 2004. Public pressure could force the DOT to not renew the next application for exemption by the Military Traffic Management Command. Why should we care about DU shipments while devastation continues in foreign countries from the actual use of this

radioactive weapon? By understanding the danger of shipping DU through our neighborhoods, we will better understand the damage done by firing DU in neighborhoods in other countries in our name. By identifying shipments of DU munitions en route to military bases inside the United States for deployment overseas, we open the opportunity to expose and eventually stop the shipments. What to do… Contact the Department of Transportation Exemptions division and ask that the DOT immediately terminate and not renew DOT-E 9649. Depleted uranium munitions should have a "Radioactive" placard and an "Explosives" placard on shipments. Depleted uranium is an extremely toxic material and much more dangerous when shipped with an explosive propellant as in the case of DU munitions. In case of a fire, first responders (local police and fire fighters) would have no idea the shipment contained radioactive material. Send correspondence regarding DOT-E 9649 to: Mr. Delmer Billings DHM-31 Director, Office of Hazardous Materials Exemptions and Approvals Department of Transportation 400 7th St. SW Washington, D.C. 20590

Fax: (202) 366-3308 E-mail: delmer.billings Please also (if you want) send a copy to info Please share this information with others and local officials. DU Shipping informationDepleted uranium (DU) munitions are deployed by the United States military in a number of weapons systems in various locations in the United States and other nations. DU munitions, in our time of endless war, are shipped on a daily basis on our nation's highways, railways, waterways, and through foreign nations. DU munitions are a uniquely hazardous material, consisting of a radioactive penetrator which breaks down into small particles when burned, and an explosive charge or combustible propellant in the shell of the cartridge. In an accident scenario, DU munitions on our highways or railways can burn and spread radioactive material. The DU shipments are, in essence, the "dirty bomb" that our government warns us about. In the case of an accident involving a fire, it is very likely the driver would be incapacitated. The driver would not be able to communicate to others that radioactive material is involved in the fire, making it impossible for first

responders to correctly control the fire and protect the public from radioactive material. Three U.S. government documents best describe the purposes and dangers behind DU shipments and DOT-E 9649. U.S. Military Reasons for DOT-E 9649 The original application to the DOT in 1986 from the Military Traffic Management Command stated three reasons for the special exemption for DU munitions. The application for exemption also showed the U.S. military knew in 1986 that DU munitions shipments were a potentially controversial issue. A letter from the U.S. Army Military Traffic Management Command dated August 11, 1986 stated, "There are three reasons for transporting DOD DU munitions without drawing public attention by placarding trucks or marking munitions containers as radioactive. First, marking the outside of the DU munitions containers as radioactive may create friction with foreign governments when foreign nations handle DU munitions during shipping, loading or unloading. Secondly, we do not want to generate unnecessary public concern about the radiation risks associated with DU munitions. Thirdly, we do not want to raise public concerns by placarding trucks with the words "Radioactive" and "Explosive" since

the combination of these two hazard class placards may be construed to mean that nuclear weapons are being shipped when this simply is not the case." The DangerA May 14, 1984 Material Safety Data Sheet on depleted uranium stated the hazards of a fire involving DU. 8. Should DU be handled in powdered form or should a DU penetrator oxidize resulting from a penetrator's involvement in an accident such as a fire, then the intake of DU aerosol or ash via inhalation, ingestion or absorption presents an internal hazard. 9. Depending upon the solubility of the particular DU compound in body fluids, it may also be toxic, particularly to the kidney. 10. Should an accident occur or DU corrosion be discovered, clean up and decontamination should be performed only by authorized personnel. 11. Anyone who may have inadvertently come in contact with material that is potentially contaminated with DU should be surveyed for contamination by authorized personnel as soon as possible, remove any clothing which may be contaminated, wash hands, arms, face and any other exposed parts of the body with soap and water. Do not eat, drink, smoke or apply cosmetics before being satisfactorily decontaminated. The August 2002 Navy Radioactive Materials Permit contains a supplement showing the hazardous potential of a fire involving the shipment of DU. The Navy permit application dated August 21, 2002 contained a lengthy but informative section, applicable to any situation involving the combustion of DU. Transportation Accident/Incident w/FireWhen involved in a fire, depleted uranium (DU) may oxidize, generating a downwind hazard in the form of a DU oxide dust plume. The significant health hazards associated with the dust plume are; 1) heavy metal poisoning from inhalation of the dust, and 2) the radiological hazards associated with inhalation of the dust. First responder personnel should adhere to the following information when approaching the scene of a DU fire. a. First responders should approach the scene from upwind and assure all non-emergency personnel are evacuated from all downwind areas. First responder personnel should wear self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) respirators to protect against inhalation of any DU oxide dust or remain upwind of the fire. Evacuate the immediate vicinity of the accident and notify the emergency number identified on the DD form 836. In the event that the DD form 836 is not available the on-scene commander should notify the

traffic manager at the nearest military base. b. Because, the complete round of DU ammunition contains explosive propellant an explosive hazard exists when fire is present. In this case, remain upwind and assure that essential and non-essential personnel are moved to a safe distance as listed on the DD form 836, Fire Fighting Instructions. Use any available method to stay upwind of the smoke plume. c. Each hazardous material shipment made by the Department of Defense requires the vehicle driver to have in their possession a DD form 836, Fire Fighting Instructions. The DD form 836 contains the necessary withdrawal distance for on-scene emergency personnel and public. The on-scene commander will assure these distances are strictly adhered to. The on-scene commander should establish a cordon of the accident area and assure all personnel are evacuated from the downwind side. The cordon can be increased to limit the effects of wind changes or adverse weather conditions. Establish

an entry control point and monitor all personnel entering and exiting the hazard zone. Evaluate the fire scene and determine what actions or non-actions to initiate. In most cases, fire and ammunition don't mix and fire fighting personnel are relegated to observer status to assure the fire doesn't spread or become more serious. d. Contact the nearest Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit to inspect the load and determine the extent of damage. Navy EOD personnel are trained in make-safe operations involving depleted uranium ammunition. Navy EOD personnel will also make all contacts to coordinate clean-up and disposal actions required by U.S. Army Technical Assistance Team. e. The establishment of a radiation contamination control line (RCCL) should be established near the cordon entry control point and outside of the contaminated area. The number of emergency personnel who are to pass over the RCCL should be kept to a minimum. All personnel evacuated from the established

cordon should report to the RCCL radiation contamination for screening. The names, addresses, telephone number and monitoring results of all personnel passing through the RCCL shall be recorded, whether contaminated or not. f. Personnel injured in the accident will be evacuated through medical channels. Injured personnel evacuated from the accident scene should be wrapped in a white sheet and tagged to identify possible exposure to DU contamination. Medial treatment for serious injuries takes priority over contamination surveys and decontamination efforts. g. All materials including soil, clothing, packaging, pallets, vehicles and dismembered parts, etc. shall be surveyed and declared radioactive free. Contaminated materials should be disposed of per OPNAVNOTE 5100, Low Level Radioactive Waste (LLWR) Disposal Program. All materials found to be radioactive free may be disposed of through normal methods. h. Once the fire has been extinguished, a smaller controlled area

around the accident site must be maintained, until it has been surveyed by EOD and radiological personnel and declared contamination free or the area decontaminated per local, state and federal laws and regulations. i. All emergency response personnel may be contaminated with DU. Some of the personnel may sustain injuries while working at the scene, they should be decontaminated prior to receiving medical treatment, provided medical personnel concur. All equipment used at the fire scene shall be surveyed for radioactive contamination and decontaminated at the RCCL. j. After EOD has declared the area safe from an explosive standpoint, radiation surveys will be performed to determine the extent of radioactive contamination. Areas noted to be contaminated shall be marked and decontaminated as soon as possible. k. The chain-of-command/local military community will assure that waste receptacles are available, and located at the RCCL for disposal of contaminated clothing and

equipment. Metal containers with lids should be available with 4 mil plastic linings for solid waste. Radioactive waste should be held at the nearest Department of Defense installation, and disposition instructions requested per OPNAV NOTICE 5100. l. Damaged ammunition that is contamination free shall be repackaged and reported to the applicable Program Manager, listed in appendix 1 to Supplement 7, for disposition. m. Specific guidance on packaging damaged DU ammunition may be obtained by contacting the points of contact identified in Supplement 7, paragraph D.3 and D.4. Not mentioned in the documents is how first responders would have any idea that a burning truck with an "Explosives" placard might contain depleted uranium. This is because the U.S. government does not want anyone to know. JANUARY 7, 2003--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Depleted Uranium (DU) weapons fired by U.S. Navy on Washington coast

Contact: David Mann (Gendler and Mann, LLP) (206) 621-8868 Greg Wingard (Waste Action Project) (206) 261-2670 Glen Milner (Ground Zero Center) (206) 365-7865

DEPLETED URANIUM BULLETS, MADE FROM RADIOACTIVE WASTE MATERIAL, WERE FIRED IN EXERCISES OFF THE COAST OF WASHINGTON STATE ACCORDING TO RECENTLY RELEASED U.S. NAVY DOCUMENTS. THE U.S. NAVY MEMO WAS ISSUED IN JUNE 2001 AS A WARNING TO OTHER SHIPS, AND FOR SUBMARINES TO “STAY CLEAR”.

A COALITION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND PEACE ORGANIZATIONS ARE CONSIDERING FILING FOR AN IMMEDIATE COURT INJUNCTION AGAINST FURTHER USE OF DEPLETED URANIUM ROUNDS BY THE U.S. NAVY.

Depleted uranium (DU/U-238) is a highly toxic material. It is about half as radioactive as natural uranium (U235) and twice as heavy as lead. Depleted uranium has a half-life of 4.5 billion years. It is known to have been first used by U.S. Army tanks and Air Force jets during the 1991 war against Iraq with devastating effects on the environment in the region. In 1995, the Army Environmental Policy Institute concluded, “If depleted uranium enters the body, it has a potential to generate significant medical consequences. The risks associated with depleted uranium are both chemical and radiological.” “How can the Navy fire depleted uranium rounds and spread radioactive material into prime fishing areas off our coast?” said Dave Mann, Seattle environmental attorney. “The Navy is willing to put us all at risk, including its own sailors, to improve its warfighting capabilities”, said Glen Milner, of Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action, who received the information through the Freedom of Information Act. The U.S. Navy memo was released through the Freedom of Information Act in December 2002 to Glen Milner of Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action. The memo states in June 2001, the USS Fife, a U.S. Navy destroyer stationed at the U.S. Naval base at Everett, was “CONDUCTING GUNNERY OPERATIONS CONSISTING OF 5” 54 LWGM/BLP AND CIWS/DEPLETED URANIUM ROUNDS IN AREAS W237C AND W237F... (ALL TIMES JUN 01)” Areas W237C and W237F are warning areas west of the Washington Coast between Neah Bay and Ocean Shores. This area is prime fish habitat for a number of endangered species. The CIWS designation is for “Close-In Weapons System”, also known as the Phalanx system. This weapons system is complete with radar and rapid-fire 20 mm guns. The guns are capable of firing up to 3,000 or 4,500 rounds per minute.

 

 

 

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