Requirements for Units That Store Munitions and Explosives

RCRA regulations include special requirements for spent munitions and explosives. These more stringent requirements are necessary because of the potential of these wastes to detonate or explode. Detonation or explosion of spent munitions and explosives can release hazardous waste components, by-products, or contamination of the soil, water supply, or the air. Units in which munitions and explosive hazardous wastes are stored must meet specific regulations, as follows:

• Units must be designed and operated to include containment systems, controls, and monitoring that minimize the potential for detonation or explosion.
• Waste must be protected from sitting in water that has collected from precipitation (for example, rain or snow).
• Liquid wastes must be stored in an area that has a secondary containment system in place.
• All hazardous waste munitions and explosives must be inventoried and accounted for at least once each year.
• The storage units in which munitions and explosives are located must be inspected and monitored as necessary to ensure the safety of the explosives and the integrity of the container itself.
• The storage areas for units that store munitions and explosives must ensure that an explosion in one area would not create a chain reaction of explosions that would affect other areas.
• When a storage facility is closed, the owner or operator must remove or decontaminate all remaining waste components.

The RCRA regulations specifically address the management of solid waste military munitions. We will discuss this in Unit 8, "Specific Wastes."

To learn more about RCRA visit our RCRA Hazardous Waste Safety Online Training web page.