Opinion: Burning explosives danger

In a country that prides itself on high technology, the U.S. government is burning and detonating hazardous waste in the open air, using disposal methods that have been outlawed for private companies. In the 1980s, when federal hazardous waste rules were written, a special exemption was created for military explosives’ waste. Since then, open burning and open detonation (OB/OD) were the norm for waste munitions and explosives, and limits were ignored, even as more effective disposal methods were put in use by civilian companies. … and it’s dangerous. There are 60-plus military sites in America where millions of pounds of unneeded explosives (i.e. bombs, artillery, propellants, tactical missiles, napalm) are being burned and dioxins from it being spread beyond the point of release, and washing into rivers and bays, and leaching into groundwater, exposing communities. The contaminants can cause cancer, birth defects, cardiac and immune system deterioration, and brain damage. Eglin AFB, Fla., is the OB/OD disposal site for waste explosives and munitions generated at Hurlburt Field, Tyndall AFB, NAS Pensacola, and Navy Support Activity Panama City. Eglin has a Florida DEP permit that allows some nine million pounds to go up in smoke and come down as air and water pollution. While sites in other states are prohibited from OB/OD of certain wastes, there are no prohibitions at Eglin. (Source: Pensacola News Journal Guest Opinion 12/08/18) Note: Opinion writer Enid Sisskin is the chair of the Natural Resource Committee of the League of Women Voters of the Pensacola Bay Area. This is one of the issues being studied by the committee to present to the local LoWV for consideration.