Range Clearance in Contingency

Transcription

1 Range Clearance in Contingency Nicholas J. Stolte, P.E. Former Environmental Chief, U.S. Forces Afghanistan Environmental and Munitions Center of Expertise Huntsville, AL 18 NOV 14 US Army Corps of Engineers

2 Topics Overview of the Mission Timeline of Events Range Clearance Process Regulatory Environment U.S. and International Policy Challenges Making a decision Successes

3 Overview of the Mission Afghanistan Range Clearance Mission is to clear all U.S. High Explosive Training Ranges (HETRs) of Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) by 31 DEC 15. Ranges to be transferred to Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) for continued use will not be cleared.

4 Timeline of Events Spring through Summer of 2013 Orders published requiring Regional Commands to identify ranges and input them into the database of record; the Combined Information Database Network Exchange (CIDNE) OCT 13 An 8 year old girl was killed while collecting scrap metal on a U.S. range. DEC 13 International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) published SOP 10614, Operation and Clearance of ISAF Ranges and Sites of Kinetic ISAF Engagements. DEC 13 USACE HNC awarded $48M Task Order on the Worldwide Environmental Remediation Services (WERS) MATOC for identification, survey, and surface clearance of ranges. APR 14 Article Published in the Washington Post titled, A Rising Number of Children Are Dying From U.S. Explosives Littering Afghan Land. Followed by increased senior level leadership and congressional visibility and involvement of the range clearance program. APR 14 COMISAF set a date for completion of 31 DEC 15. MAY 14 Draft language to authorize range clearance was submitted for inclusion in the NDAA FY15. JUL 14 HNC awarded 2 nd T.O. on the WERS ($250M) to complete surface and subsurface clearance. SEP 14 Continuing Resolution passed with a section to authorize the use of up to $250M for surface and subsurface clearance of U.S. ranges in Afghanistan.

5 Range Clearance Process Phase 1: Survey all U.S. High Explosive Training Ranges (HETRs) Determine the size and location of U.S. ranges scheduled for closure. Transferring ranges not surveyed or cleared. Phase 2: Surface Clearance Clear surface ERW to remove most immediate and accessible hazards. Receive Surface Clearance Certificates from the Mine Action Coordination Centre Afghanistan (MACCA). Perform geophysical investigation (data logging) to develop a heat map of potential subsurface contamination. Phase 3: Subsurface Clearance Initially no authority to conduct this phase. Planned to clear Defined Hazard Areas (DHAs) to a depth of one meter. Receive Clearance Certificates from MACCA.

6 Clearance photos

7 BUILDING STRONG

8 BUILDING STRONG

9 BUILDING STRONG

10 BUILDING STRONG

11 Regulatory Environment Mine Action Coordination Centre of Afghanistan (MACCA) and the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) are the regulators. There are published standards and processes for clearance: Afghanistan Mine Action Standards (AMAS). MACCA/UNMAS owned the process; wrote and updated AMAS. USACE HNC helped develop processes for range clearance. Contractors were accredited and licensed by MACCA. MACCA performs independent, 3 rd party Quality Assurance (QA). MACCA issues clearance certificates after completion and QA inspection.

12 U.S. and International Policy The Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War (Protocol V) DoD Directive , Environmental and Explosives Safety Management on Operational Ranges Outside the United States. DoD Instruction , Environmental Remediation for DoD Activities Overseas. CENTCOM Regulation 200 2, CENTCOM Contingency Environmental Guidance NDAA FY99 ISAF SOP 10614, Operation and Clearance of ISAF Ranges and Sites of Kinetic ISAF Engagements. DoD M, Volume 7, DoD Ammunition and Explosive Safety Standards: Criteria for Unexploded Ordnance, Munitions Response, Waste Military Munitions, and Material Potentially Presenting an Explosive Hazard.

13 Challenges Precedence Standards and processes were developed for mine clearance and new standards had to be written for range and battle area clearance. Digital geophysical technology had never been used for this purpose in Afghanistan. Political Existing policies and funding were determined to be inappropriate for range remediation/clearance in a contingency. Records No comprehensive database of range locations and areas potential range locations had to be identified and surveyed. Security Could not work in areas of high kinetic activity and experienced numerous kidnappings and threats from anti government agencies. Access Some ranges were still hot and could not be cleared until NATO forces no longer had a operational need. Scope Total range area to be cleared initially estimated to be 533 km 2 (about 3 times the size of Washington, D.C.) grew to approx. 850 km 2 Time COMISAF set a suspense of 31 DEC 15 Perception WaPo article and other media outlets created a negative perception.

14 Making a Decision Determination had to be made for subsurface clearance. All Defined Hazard Areas (DHAs) must be cleared to a depth of 1 meter per AMAS. Decision is where to draw the line on the DHA. Geophysical data is analyzed by the Contractor and HNC geophysicists to determine DHA. DHA reported to MACCA and original footprint is reduced in the database. Done in accordance with AMAS 05.01, Land Release.

15 Making a Decision Subsequent to the surface clearance, Geophysical data is collected and used to determine where subsurface hazards are; i.e., the DHA. Original Confirmed Hazard Area (CHA) is reduced to the DHA and the remaining land is released from suspicion of ERW hazards. DHA is cleared to a depth of 1 meter IAW AMAS and then is also released. MACCA issues clearance certificates for cleared areas.

16 Successes Annex A, Range Clearance Operations to AMAS was developed by MACCA and USACE HNC to accommodate Range Clearance. USFOR A and ISAF leadership advocated with congress for authorization and funding. U.S. Law enacted (Continuing Resolution for FY15) to authorize surface and subsurface clearance and appropriate funds. Increased priority of mission resulted better communication and efficiency. Working relationship with MACCA and successful clearances led to more positive outlook from the Government of Afghanistan and the international community. Successfully implemented the use of geophysical data, for the first time in Afghanistan, to significantly reduce the subsurface clearance requirement.

17 Thank You.