Click the banner above to view the December 2019 edition of the UXO E-Newsletter brought to you by Ordnance Holdings, Inc. (OHI).

Washington, D.C. The EPA finally released its final report on Alternatives To OB/OD of energetic hazardous wastes after studying the topic for nearly two years. The report merely presents an overview of alternative treatment technologies organized by the following categories:

• case opening technologies for what EPA classifies as thick and thin cased munitions;
• energetic material removal technologies;
• energetic material destruction technologies; and
• decontamination technologies.

  The report presents information on several specific technologies or approaches within each category that have been used in CONUS or internationally and included technologies that were "widely tested, but had limited success."

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As the holiday season is upon us, I want take a moment to pay tribute to all the troops protecting and supporting our great country by keeping us all safe. I know many of you cannot be home for the holidays, so please know that this and all the other sacrifices you make each day do not go unnoticed. Thank you for your contributions to making this world a better, less dangerous place.

I also want to recognize all the UXO technicians who work hard throughout the year, spending countless days away from their families, especially during the holiday season. Without you, the industry would not exist. You are the lifeline that makes it successful year after year.

Finally, I would like to wish everyone peace, joy and prosperity throughout the coming new year. I thank you for your continued support and look forward to working with you in the years to come.

Best wishes for a very Happy Holiday and a safe, joyful New Year,

Jenna Client Relations Manager
UXOInfo.com / OHI
Phone: (443) 522-2933 ext 1000
Cell: (443) 857-7474
Email:jenna@uxoinfo.com
UXOInfo.com is owned and operated by
Ordnance Holdings, Inc. (OHI),
a HUB Zone certified small business.

West Essex, United Kingdom Police and the Littlehampton Coastguard team were called to Pagham Beach after a member of the public found an ordnance item on the beach. The beach was closed while an Army EOD team was dispatched to the site.

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Athen, Georgia Dr. Valentine Nzengung, a Professor of Environmental Geochemistry at the University of Georgia, has been named a National Academy of Inventors (NAI) Fellow.

Dr. Nzengung, founder of MuniRem Environmental, a company which provides innovative green remediation technologies and services for soil, buildings and equipment that have been contaminated with explosive residues.

"This is a humbling endorsement of the applied research I have focused on as a faculty member at the University of Georgia," said Dr. Nzengung. "I never thought of the solutions to environmental problems that I have developed as deserving of this very high level of recognition. My focus has been and remains developing and applying innovative solutions that benefit human health and our environment."

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Orkney Islands, United Kingdom An unexploded German torpedo was found near the Scapa Flow, a body of water in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, sheltered by the islands of Mainland, Graemsay, Burray, South Ronaldsay and Hoy.

According to reports, Kirkwall Airport, the main airport on the islands, was closed for three hours. The torpedo was discovered near the wreck of the HMS Royal Oak, which was sunk by a German U-boat in October 1939, soon after the start of the WWII. According to the Orkney Islands Council Harbour Authority, the Royal Navy bomb team was quoted as saying that they "will be engaged in the recovery, movement and detonation of a suspected live warhead." No further information has been given at this time.

Governor's Island, New York The USACE is planning to conduct an underwater UXO survey and investigation in the waters surrounding Governor's Island.

Governors Island formerly served as a recruitment center, supply depot, prison, and supply base where munitions were stored, tested, transported, and used for training and coastal defense. Historical research has cited that munitions may have accidentally fell or been dumped into the waters as vessels were loading and unloading munitions at the piers.

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Turin, Italy The Italian Army responded to a find of an unexploded WWII era British bomb at a construction site. A render safe procedure was performed in an approximate 8 foot deep trench. More than 10,000 people were forced to evacuate the area as technicians removed the detonator from the tail end of the bomb identified as a 500 lbs WWII era British bomb.

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