UXO Site selected: Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD

General Area: Joppatowne, MD

Site Type/Program: RCWM sites (Non-stockpile)

Location:

Brief History:

Pre-1918 The installation was initially known as the Gunpowder Reservation and was used by the Ordnance Department for the manufacture and filling of gas shells.

1918 On May 4, the installation was officially designated Edgewood Arsenal (EA). EA remained an Ordnance installation. On July 1, the installation was transferred to the newly created Chemical Warfare Service (CWS). Fort Hoyle Military Reservation, which was located adjacent to and was serviced with utilities from Edgewood Arsenal, later became part of EA. During World War I (WWI), great quantities of chemical agent were manufactured at EA.

Post-WWI Plants were placed on standby and the major function during ensuing years was the manufacturing of gas masks.

1920s The Chemical Warfare School was established along with the research and development activities of the CWS.

May 1942 The installation was designated the Chemical Warfare Center.

2 August 1945 The installation was designated was changed to the Army Chemical Center.

1 August 1962 The installation was re-designated to the historic Edgewood Arsenal.

1 July 1971 Edgewood Arsenal became a part of Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG).The principal areas in which chemical weapons were tested or disposed of include: Westwood, O-Field, J-Field, King's Creek, G-Field, M-Field, D-Field, Maxwell Point, Carroll Island, the Lauderick Creek Area (school fields), and Graces Quarters. However, several other fields had limited chemical weapons activities.

1975 One CAIS K951 was discovered and disposed.

1980 One 75 mm projectile and two 4.2-inch mortars were discovered. One mortar was drilled and drained in February 1996 and the other was drilled and drained in January 2003, both at the CTF at APG-EA.

1984 Two projectiles were discovered and destroyed by OB/OD at APG on 1 December 1995. Also, one mortar round was discovered and destroyed by OB/OD at APG on 10 March 1997.

1986 One 4.2-inch mortar was discovered.

23 May 1990 Ten GB-filled bomblets were discovered and subsequently tranported to J-Field and detonated.

November 1992 One Livens Projectile and 1 stokes mortar round were discovered.

1993 One 4-inch mortar was discovered. Also in February 1993, one 120 mm rocket and one land mine were discovered.

1994 Fourteen 75 mm projectiles and 51 rounds were discovered.

1995 Two 4-inch mortars were discovered and destroyed between October 2002 and January 2003.

2000 Two 8-inch Livens projectiles were discovered.

2001 One E123 Bomblet was discovered.

2002 Three E61 bomblets,one 8-inch Livens projectile, two 75 mm projectiles, and one 4.2-inch Stokes were discovered.



Range / Site Description: CWM Sites include:
J-Field Study Area - Extensive chemical agent testing and disposal conducted on this site in World War II. U.S. Army Technical Escort Unit records also indicate adamsite (DM) disposal. Between 1940 and the 1970s the Army disposed of chemical agents, high explosives, and chemical wastes at J Field. Contaminated with nerve agents, munitions, white phosphorus, and riot control agents.Used for open-pit disposals. Many tons of nerve (GA) and mustard-filled containers burned in pits.
Old O-Field - Unknown detonation in disposal pits followed by spontaneous denotations in June 1949. Used as burial ground for allied and enemy munitions during and after World War II. From 1941-l 953, the Army used Old O-Field for disposing of chemical warfare agents, munitions, equipment, and other waste materiel. Approximately 5 acres in size. High-explosive and chemical-filled munitions; actual types unknown but represent a spectrum of United States, foreign, and experimental chemical warfare materiel. Some pits 100 yards long, 10 feet wide, and 10 feet deep. May also contain contaminated equipment, smoke, and incendiaries.
Graces Quarters Study Area 1
New O-Field - From the mid-1950s to the early 1980% New O-Field was used primarily for open-pit burning and disposal of chemical warfare munitions; some burials are likely. Approximately 15 acres.
Westwood Range Area - The Westwood area may be contaminated with some mustard and pyrotechnic rounds including unexploded ordnance. The Army used this Study Area for testing, training, materiel storage, and ammunition loading. The range is no longer used for testing of munitions. The size of the area is approximatley 523 acres.
F-Field
D-Field
G-Field
M-Field;
Maxwell Point;
H-Field;
Douglas Road Munitions Disposal Site;
Graces Quarters Study Area - Used as agent disposal area during World War II and from 1950 to 1969. Approximately 800 acres. Unknown items; soil contaminated with BZ, nerve agent (VX), and mustard. Disposal of lab equipment and test items.
Carrol Island Study Area - Disposed of remains of munitions test items and GB-, VX-, mustard-, and BZ-contaminated lab equipment.Ten pits in 4-acre site; 2 pits in unknown area.
King's Creek - Stokes mortar rounds found onpost at King’s Creek in November 1992. Site appears to be a World War I disposal area.
Carrolls Island - Carroll Island test activity. Used from 1949 to 1971. Potential for residue from testing with nerve agent (VX, GB), and incapacitating and experimental agents/munitions. Approximately 855 acres.
Lauderick Creek - Study Area School Fields - Chemical warfare training and testing sites. Firing of chemical ordnance; agent training. Approximately 1,100 acres. Liquid-filled projectiles and mortar rounds found in 1984. From 1920 to 1951, the U.S. Army Chemical School used portions of the Lauderick Creek Area for chemical warfare training. The chemical ordnance used in the training was mostly smoke and tear gas. There was also some use of high-explosive and lethal filled munitions, mostly Phosgene (a choking gas) and mustard (a blister agent). The Nike Missile Battery was constructed on some of the former Chemical School fields.
Canal Creek Study Area - The Army used Canal Creek Area to load and test chemical warfare agents. Examples are Canal Creek Marsh/Landfill (used as a disposal site for chemical munitions), G Street Salvage Yard, and Building 103 Dump. Ten bomblets removed from G Street Salvage Yard by The U.S. Army Technical Escort Unit to J Field for detonation on 23 April 1990. These have been identified as GB-filled.
APG Binary Bulk Storage;
Pilot Plant Complex;
Pilot Plant Compound; Storage;
North Field Bunker;
E3900 Block;
E1942;
N-Field;
I-Field;
E-Field;
Coopers Creek Study Area;
Swaderick Creek Study Area;
Wright Creek Study Area

Associated Munitions:

Activities Completed:

Issues:

Other Information:

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