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Large numbers of munitions and explosives were left behind by years of
training on the Former Vieques Naval Training Range. The Navy is
reducing the risk of encountering potentially dangerous munitions on
Vieques Island.
To protect Vieques residents and visitors, roads leading to the areas
that contain munitions and explosives have been blocked and identified
with warning signs.
In 2001 and 2003, Punta Arenas (formerly Green Beach), Bahía Corcho/Playa
Caracas (formerly Red Beach) and Playa La Chiva (formerly Blue Beach)
were investigated, cleared of munitions-related debris, and opened to
the public. Playa Pata Prieta and Playa Escondida/Playa La Plata are
also open to the public.
This map shows the areas
that are restricted in orange.
Please stay away from restricted areas of the former
Navy range, including the surrounding waters, until all investigations
have been completed.
Those who trespass expose themselves to grave danger. Please observe the
warning signs!
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Munitions Response
Progress through October 2010
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1,548 acres have been surface cleared of munitions and
explosives of concern
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91 percent of the land in the Live Impact Area (LIA), 48
percent in the Surface Impact Area (SIA), and 100
percent in the Eastern Conservation Area (ECA) have been
surface cleared
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All beaches (65 acres) have been surface cleared
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Sub-surface removal at beaches and roads is nearly 30
percent completed
The green shading on this
map shows the areas where munitions have been removed from the surface
of the ground. Red areas are inaccessible due to dangerous submunitions
in dense vegetation.
Priority Ranking of Munitions Response Sites on Vieques
In April, 2010 the former site was divided into 18 munitions sites, as
shown on the map below: 17 sites on east Vieques and one site on west
Vieques. Congress required the U.S. Department of Defense to set
priorities for investigating all munitions response sites. The Munitions
Response Site Prioritization Protocol:
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Provides a method for scoring and ranking each munitions
response site
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Allows sites to be consistently scored and ranked
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Is used to set priorities for long-term munitions
response actions on Vieques and at other Navy munitions
response sites nationwide
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Provides for early and continuous community and
stakeholder participation in the process
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Priority scores are based on the results of one or more of these Hazard
Evaluation modules:
16 of the 18 munitions sites on the former Vieques Naval Training Range
were ranked a Priority Level 2. Priority scores of the other two sites are shown on the map below.
Scores will be updated annually as additional data become available.
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Priority scores range from 1 to 8
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Level 1 is the highest hazard level
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Level 2 is the highest rating possible at a site that
does not have chemical warfare materials
Click
here
to download this full-size map as a PDF file.
Removal
Actions on East Vieques
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Removal actions that began in 2005 have rapidly reduced the imminent
explosive safety risk to trespassers and allow the U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service (USFWS) to safely manage natural resources in the wildlife
refuge, including the sea turtle nesting areas along the beaches of the
LIA. In May 2009, the Navy began removing subsurface munitions from the
roads and beaches on east and west Vieques, to further reduce health and
safety risks.
The Navy uses open-air, controlled detonations as the safest way to
dispose of large bombs and other dangerous munitions. These detonations
occur about twice per month. This procedure is necessary for most of the
munitions found on the former range, due to the high explosive safety
risk to workers that would be caused by moving unstable munitions and/or
the large size of certain munitions.
The regulatory agencies (EPA and EQB), other agencies responsible for
emergency response (Coast Guard and Federal Aviation Administration),
and the municipality of Vieques are informed every time a detonation is
scheduled.
To make sure human health is not affected by open detonations on the
former range, air monitoring data is collected at the border between the
former Live Impact Area and Surface Impact Area, as well as the border
between the refuge and near the residential areas.
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Employing
Vieques Residents
More than 80 Vieques residents completed training programs and are
assisting in the munitions cleanup program. Hiring local
residents, instead of bringing workers in from the U.S., has reduced
travel and lodging costs, which is re-allocated to the munitions
cleanup. In addition, these workers are an important source of
information for the local community about the cleanup effort.
Recycling Scrap Metal
Most of the munitions-related debris removed from the former LIA is
treated at the Central Processing Center (CPC). The material is cut with
a shearing device, inert bombs are crushed with a hammer mill, and the
materials are heated in a flashing furnace to ensure that no explosive
residues remain. Once the scrap metal is certified as safe, it is loaded
into trailers and sent off the island for recycling.
Approximately 16 million pounds of metal debris has been collected, with
over 13 million pounds processed and shipped for recycling.
West Vieques Munitions Response
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The old Open Burn/Open Detonation site (SWMU 4), shown in purple on this
map, is the only munitions response site on western Vieques. In 2001,
Green Beach (Punta Arenas) on western Vieques was investigated, found to
be clear of munitions, and opened to the public.
SWMU 4 was used for thermal destruction of unserviceable munitions from
about 1965-1980. Field investigations for explosives and ordnance scraps
were conducted in 2002-2003, with removal of munitions found on the
surface and limited removal of subsurface munitions. Over 200 acres were
found to contain munitions or explosives of concern. To protect the
public until investigation and cleanup is completed,
a
large buffer area around the site has been fenced off until the
munitions response is complete.
An interim action to remove subsurface munitions and explosives of
concern (MEC) from the roads and beaches at SWMU 4 was completed in June
2010; 266 items were removed.
Underwater Areas
The underwater area extending on east and west
Vieques, shown on this map, may have been impacted by MEC. Limited
investigation data has been collected as part of various non-Navy “pilot
tests” and investigations at the underwater areas. Based on the
historical data and the limited investigation data, a Remedial
Investigation for MEC and munitions constituents (MC) will be conducted
for selected underwater areas of Vieques. The underwater areas to be
addressed include all of those identified within the NPL boundary and
are outlined in
orange on
this map.
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Click
here to view or download this
full-size map as a PDF File. |
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