ASSESSMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE FIRING ACTIVITY ON ACTIVE CANADIAN FIRING RANGES

摘要

Troop readiness requires extensive training. Much of this training is done on military training ranges, which tend to see intense use. While these training ranges are key elements in maintaining the capability, readiness and interoperability of the Armed Forces, operational activities can have serious impacts on the environment. The potential for such serious possibilities as groundwater contamination mandates that Defence Departments demonstrate responsible management of these facilities in order to continue testing and training activities without incurring major environmental impacts. There is a need to provide training range managers with techniques to assess the potential for groundwater contamination from residues of high explosives (TNT, PETN, RDX, and HMX) and other potential contaminants such as heavy metals, radioactive materials or depleted uranium at testing and training ranges. Site characterization guidance should be developed and data gaps in fate and transport parameters of high explosives residuals should be filled. Additional research will increase the credibility of guidance and recommendations for range sustainability. In order to address this goal, the Canadian Force Base Shilo (Manitoba) training area was characterized extensively to assess the impacts of the training that has been conducted there for the last 50 years. For the past 23 years, German troops have trained extensively in Shilo alongside their Canadian counterparts as part of the German Army Training Exchange Shilo (GATES). The ultimate goal of this sampling campaign was to globally assess the potential contamination related to explosives and other contaminants. Such an assessment required an appropriate definition and understanding of the hydrogeological context of the site. The Shilo base is located on a major regional aquifer (Assiniboine delta) that is heavily used for crop irrigation as well as domestic needs. It was therefore critical to ensure that no contamination migrates off range. Soils, biomass, surface and groundwater samples were collected across all the training ranges and battleruns according to a sampling procedure described in this paper. We will present the analytical results for the concentrations of explosives, thorium 232, petroleum products and heavy metals found in the samples. We will also present ,the hydrogeological characterization of the base. Some trends are observed that could be related with firing activities. Mitigation or cleaning procedures might be needed in some cases. Thorium and other heavy metal analyses revealed a localized impact close to the targets and a contamination pattern was observed. Worldwide, this study is one of the first to describe the complete and detailed characterization of a major training area, and some contamination trends attributable to training activities were observed.