Death of the Chesapeake Scrivener Publishing 100 Cummings Center, Suite 541J Beverly, MA 01915-6106 Publishers at Scrivener Martin Scrivener ([email protected]) Phillip Carmical ([email protected]) Death of the Chesapeake A History of the Military's Role in Polluting the Bay Richard D. Albright Copyright © 2013 by Scrivener Publishing LLC. All rights reserved. Co-published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Hoboken, New Jersey, and Scrivener Publishing LLC, Salem, Massachusetts. Published simultaneously in Canada. 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The Sea Cat operated in the Yellow Sea in water too shallow to submerge her periscope. In so doing she denied the enemy a previously unchallenged supply shipping lane, sinking much tonnage. The Sea Cat was honored by being invited to attend the surrender of Japan in Tokyo Bay. Contents Preface xiii Special Recognition for Those Who Enlightened the Author on Underwater Issues or on the Chesapeake Bay Itself xv List of Acronyms xvii Introduction xix 1 The Formation of the Bay and Its Drainage Area 1 References 5 2 Nutrient Dynamics, Depletion, and Replenishment 7 2.1 Nutrient Loads and Oxygen Depletion 7 2.2 Nitrogen and Phosphorus from Munitions 8 2.3 Munitions Disposal Areas 9 2.4 Chemical Weapons Disposal in the Bay 10 2.5 Total Yearly Contaminant Loads from Federal Facilities Entering the Chesapeake Bay 11 2.6 Sewage Contamination by Military Facilities 11 References 12 3 Safety Issues with Old Munitions 15 3.1 Old Explosives Can Spontaneously Detonate 17 3.1.1 Underwater Munitions Can Migrate 19 3.1.2 Density 23 3.1.3 Wide Area Assessments [8] 23 vii viii Contents 3.1.4 Human Death from Underwater UXO Detonations 23 3.1.5 Human Death or Injury from Chemical Underwater UXO 24 3.1.6 Human Chronic Illness from Munitions Constituents in Seafood 25 3.1.7 Real Estate Impacts 26 References 27 4 Artillery Shells in the Bay 29 4.1 Bloodsworth Island Range 29 4.1.1 Baltimore Anchorages 32 4.1.2 Fort Armistead 32 4.1.3 Proximity-Fuze Testing 32 4.2 Seacoast Artillery 33 4.2.1 Fort Smallwood (1896–1928) 33 4.2.2 Fort Monroe, VA 34 4.3 Fort Meade 35 4.4 Naval Research Laboratory – Chesapeake Bay Detachment 36 4.5 Aberdeen Proving Ground 36 References 37 5 Bombs in the Bay 39 5.1 Langley AFB 40 5.2 Tangier Island 43 5.3 Atlantic Test Ranges, Patuxent River, Maryland 45 5.4 Plum Tree Island 49 5.4.1 Other Targets 49 5.4.2 Combination Bombing and Artillery Ranges 50 5.5 Ragged Point 51 5.6 Hebron Bomber Airport (Intersection of Route 50 & Route 347) 52 5.7 Accidental Bombing of Wittman, MD 52 References 54 6 Mines and Torpedoes in the Bay 55 6.1 The Disappearing Droids of Chesapeake Bay 56 6.2 Patuxent Naval Mine Warfare Test Station 57 References 59 Contents ix 7 Military Munitions and Explosives Factories 61 7.1 Triumph Industries 61 7.2 US Penniman Shell Loading Plant 63 7.3 Chestertown, MD, Munitions Plant 64 References 64 8 Contamination from Military Constituents Leading to Environmental and Human Health Concerns 65 8.1 Potential Health Effects of the Munitions Constituents Closely Associated with Military Munitions 66 8.2 Perchlorates 67 8.3 Lead 71 8.4 Explosive Contaminants 72 8.4.1 Health Effects of Nitrates 73 8.4.2 Environmental Damage from Leaking Toxins 75 8.5 Sampling for Military Contaminants 76 References 76 9 Chemical Weapons Sites on Chesapeake Bay or in the Watershed 79 9.1 Aberdeen Proving Ground 79 9.1.1 Training Ranges 82 9.1.2 General Ordnance Expended 83 9.1.3 Specifi c Contaminants 84 9.1.4 Carroll Island Study Area 86 9.1.4.1 Background 87 9.1.4.2 Findings to Date 88 9.1.4.3 Remedial Actions 88 9.1.5 White Phosphorus 89 9.2 Pooles Island 91 9.3 Berlin, MD 91 9.4 American University Experiment Station 92 9.5 Patuxent River Chemical Incineration 97 9.6 Langley 97 9.7 Naval Research Laboratory – Chesapeake Bay Detachment 97 9.7.1 Dumpsite Containing 150 Tons of Lewisite Near NRL [9] 98 9.8 Washington Navy Yard 102 x Contents 9.9 Tidewater Community College – Suffolk 103 9.10 Other Hampton Rhodes, Norfolk, Virginia Beach Sites 103 References 104 10 Military Facilities Grouped by Specifi c Areas or on Specifi c Rivers 107 10.1 Potomac River 107 10.1.1 Various Military Facilities 107 10.1.2 Old Navy Radio Station 108 10.1.3 Washington Arsenal 109 10.1.4 Naval Air Station 109 10.1.5 Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head 110 10.1.5.1 Stump Neck Annex 111 10.1.6 Dahlgren 111 10.1.7 Newtowne Neck State Park 118 10.2 Anacostia River 119 10.2.1 The Washington Navy Yard on the Anacostia River 119 10.2.1.1 Ordnance 124 10.2.2 Experimental Battery 126 10.3 Severn River 128 10.4 Norfolk (Hampton Rhodes Area) 128 10.4.1 Fort Wool 130 10.4.2 James River 132 10.4.2.1 Nansemond Ordnance Depot 132 10.4.2.2 Fort Story 134 References 134 11 Radioactive Contamination 137 References 139 12 PCB and Other Ship Contamination 141 12.1 Navy Use of Polychlorinated Biphenyls 141 References 147 Contents xi 13 Environmental Justice 149 References 151 14 Cleaning Up the Bay’s Munitons 153 Conclusion 157 References 158 Appendix I 159 Executive Order and Comments Appendix II 167 Laws Protecting The Chesapeake Bay and Other Bodies of Water Appendix III 172 Military Facilities In The Norfolk, Virginia Area Coast Guard Restrictions Due To Military Operations Appendix IV 177 Listing of Related Defense and Chesapeake Bay Research Appendix V 178 Title 33 – Navigation And Navigable Waters Appendix VI 180 Federal Facilities Superfund Sites Appendix VII 183 1994 Tri Data Appendix VIII 184 Installations Within The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Appendix IX 187 Fish Advisories Bibliography 189 Subject and Site Index 199 Preface In essence this book deals with an area that contributes signifi cantly to the pollution and degradation of Chesapeake Bay, but has been completely overlooked in many of the efforts to restore the Bay, specifi cally, the federal pollution sources. The book also stresses, perhaps for the fi rst time, that efforts to restore the Bay have failed because of violation of a fundamental precept of environmental cleanup: that is, to sample the site and see what is there. The Bay itself has never been sampled. Thus this book presents a view of the environmental condi- tion of Chesapeake Bay that is totally unique. It covers a part of the history of the Bay that is not widely known, including how the Bay was formed. It presents a mixture of science, military history, intriguing travel sights, warnings, and novel solutions to the Bay’s degradation. It dispels some long-held views on the geology and environmental issues of the Bay. Hopefully, it will provide an eas- ily understood and enjoyable reading adventure for those with an interest in the Bay itself, whether boater, seafood fancier, historian, veteran, environmentalist, fi shing enthusiast, or adventurist.