The Joint Insensitive Munitions Technology Program (JIMTP) has developed high-explosive compositions as replacements for trinitrotoluene (TNT) and Composition-B to increase the safety of artillery projectiles, mortars, and bombs. These new compositions consist of mixtures of compounds, including NTO, DNAN, RDX, and HMX. RDX and HMX are materials well-known in the DoD and environmental community, whereas DNAN and NTO are relatively new materials for use in munitions.
Environmental concerns associated with the fate and transport of insensitive munitions (IM) persist. During the entire manufacturing, testing, operation, and demilitarization processes, there is the potential for releases. Although current regulations require DoD to determine human and environmental impact resulting from exposure to these IM formulations, there is no standard methodology consistently used across the community that delivers sensitive, rapid, and reproducible sampling, preservation, and analytical performance for IM precursors, IM, and IM daughter products in water, air, soil, and tissues. Ultimately, sampling results feed into toxicity models; therefore, it is critical that the results represent an accurate and precise measure.
The research conducted in response to this SON is intended to contribute to DoD’s capacity to: 1) understand range environmental issues; 2) improve management of environmental resources; 3) assure the long-term viability of key DoD assets; and 4) facilitate compliance with current and proposed regulations.
In July 2015, the SERDP and the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) held a workshop to develop research and demonstration needs to improve management of munitions constituents. Approximately 80 personnel, including representatives from the DoD, federal and state regulators, engineers, researchers, industry representatives, and consultants, attended. A more detailed description of these issues can be found in the report from the workshop. Proposers are strongly encouraged to review the workshop report for additional detail. (https://www.serdp-estcp.org/content/download/36213/346223/version/3/file/MC+Workshop+Report+November+20 15.pdf)