Service: Remedial Construction
Project: Mobile Firing Range Decommissioning
Client: NAVFAC SE PWD Charleston
Site Location: Naval Weapons Station Charleston, SC
Period of Performance: September 2008 – November 2008

H&S performed a mobile firing range decontamination and decommissioning TO under our ID/IQ environmental services contract for the NWS Charleston, SC. The mobile firing range consisted of a 40 foot long, steel plate reinforced box trailer with three shooting ranges. The trailer was lined with plywood and rubber sheeting and had a series of baffles behind the target area to capture bullets. The primary contaminant of concern with the decontamination was lead from the bullets.

Initially we collected swipe samples from each primary surface to determine baseline concentrations of lead. Exclusion zones with full containment were set up to prevent lead dust emissions. Air sampling stations were monitored to ensure the integrity of the containment. Working under Level B PPE, all obvious scarred flooring, wall, and ceiling coverings were removed and stockpiled on polyethylene sheeting outside the trailer. The ventilation system ducts and blower were removed and placed in drums for disposal. The remaining surfaces were scrubbed using a high phosphate solution. All surfaces were then vacuumed with a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA exhaust filter to remove any remnant particles. Lead shot from bullet fragments was collected and placed in a drum for recycling.

Each original sample location was re-sampled to determine if lead remained above the clean-up goal of 200 ug/ft2. Swipe samples were collected over a 12 inch by 12 inch area using laboratory prepared swipes. Lab results were received on an expedited basis to minimize downtime for cleaning crews. The results indicated remnant lead was remaining in some areas. The cleaning and sampling process was repeated for the entire trailer. The second round of sample results indicated that the lead was removed to concentrations below the clean-up standards.