Death of the Chesapeake: A History of the Military's Role in Polluting the Bay

211 Pages·2013·6.135 MB·English

by  Richard Albright

Death of the Chesapeake
Scrivener Publishing
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Phillip Carmical ([email protected])
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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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Cover design by Russell Richardson
Library of Congr ess Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
ISBN 978-1-118-68627-0
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Dedication
This book is dedicated to my wife Sheila, my helmsman Arie Albright
and my sonar operator and navigator Richard Albright II.
It is also dedicated to Granville Albright, and the crew of the
U.S.S. Sea Cat. 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
23
3.1.3 Wide Area Assessments [8]
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