Welcome to UXOInfo.com's free monthly E-Newsletter on Unexploded Ordnance (UXO). UXOInfo.com is the largest site on the Internet for UXO related news and information. If you have not checked out the UXOInfo.com website, we encourage you to do so at www.uxoinfo.com. In addition to bringing you the latest UXO news and information, the UXOInfo.com website also provides the following:

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Two, To and Too

In this second month of 2009, we have some interesting sets of "twin" articles including two articles on bills in Congress, two articles on munitions and scrap yards, two false alarm articles, two articles about UXO finds in Japan, and two articles from the from front lines of Iraq and Afghanistan.

The UXOInfo.com website continues to grow as we add more documents and photos to the on-line document library and UXO photo gallery. UXOInfo.com is also adding more munition items to the Mulvaney's Ordnance Technical Information System or MOTIS Database.

This month, I am asking readers to consider taking two minuets out of their day to donate information (e.g., documents, reports, images) on UXO for posting to the on-line document library and photo gallery. Donated information can be emailed as an attachment to information@uxoinfo.com. For large sized donations (i.e. >2MB or >10 files) please contact us to receive instructions on how to access our UXO data donation FTP site.

I would also like to take this time to thank all of the UXOInfo.com Corporate Sponsors and Advertisers for their support. To learn how UXOInfo.com can promote your UXO company or products to the UXO industry too, please contact me at jenna@uxoinfo.com.

Thank you and please stay safe.

WWII Era UXO Find Causes Mass Evacuation

Celle, Germany An estimated 15,000 residents were evacuated from their homes when Authorities responded to a UXO uncovered in an industrial property during construction and renovation activities. The UXO was identified as a WWII era U.S. 2,000 lbs bomb. The response took less than an hour and residents were allowed to return to their homes. No injuries or property damage were reported.

Two Separate UXO False Alarm Incidents at Alabama Metal Recycling Facilities

Ohatchee, Alabama workers at the Taylor Road Recycling Center got an unexpected surprise when they opened a crate marked "empty" and found what was reported as a "15-foot missile" inside. The workers called police who responded with EOD teams from Anniston Army Depot and Fort Benning. Upon examination of the item, EOD determined the ordnance was inert and harmless. Authorities are trying to trace back the origin of the missile to determine how it ended up at the recycling facility.

Albertville, Alabama workers at the Progress Rail Services metal recycling facility found a 500-pound bomb mixed in with a load of scrap metal sent to the facility for processing. The workers called the police who referred the call to the Marshal County Emergency Management Agency (EMA). EMA in turn referred the call to Redstone Arsenal who referred the call to Fort Benning. Fort Benning dispatched EOD to respond. EOD identified the bomb as an inert MK 80 series training bomb. Since the bomb was inert, it did not pose any explosive safety hazard. EOD transported the bomb back to Fort Benning for proper disposal. The origin of the bomb is unknown and Authorities are trying to establish how the bomb ended up at the recycling facility in the first place.

Two New IED and Munitions Related Congressional Bills Introduced This Month

Bill Introduced to Establish Office of Bombing Prevention

Washington, D.C. Congressmen Peter T. King (New York) and Bennie Thompson (Mississippi) introduced the National Bombing Prevention Act of 2009 (HR 549) in Congress. The Bill amends the Homeland Security Action of 2006 to establish an Office of Bombing Prevention. The "Office" will be responsible for coordinating national and intergovernmental bombing prevention activities; conducting a capabilities analysis of First Responders including State and Local Bomb Squads; assisting State, Local and Tribal Governments with developing IED security plans; and establishing a public awareness campaign on how to respond to a terrorist attack.

Download HR 549 from UXOInfo.com.

Submunition Ban Introduced in Congress

Washington, D.C. Congressman McGovern (D-Massachusetts) introduced a Bill in the House of Representatives to limit the use of cluster munitions (i.e. submunitions). HR 981 known as the 'Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act of 2009' only allows the use of submunitions that have less than a one percent failure rate to be deployed only against defined military targets.

The Bill allows for a Presidential waiver if the National Security of the United States is in jeopardy. The Presidential waiver requires steps to be taken to protect civilians including the use of submunitions with built-in self-destruct devices. The Bill also requires that a cleanup plan be submitted to Congress no later than 90 days after submunitions are deployed to clear remaining UXO from civilian populated areas.

Download HR 981 from UXOInfo.com.

Airport Disrupted By UXO

Miyazaki, Japan Flights at the Miyazaki airport were disrupted for several hours while Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force EOD personnel rendered safe an unexploded WWII era U.S. Bomb. The bomb was initially discovered over a week ago during construction activities. Japanese EOD personnel reportedly removed the bomb's fuzes in a render safe operation so that the bomb could be safely handled.

Outbound flights were delayed during the operation and several incoming flights were re-routed to another airport during the response. Nearby business and residents (approximately 1,700 people) were evacuated for safety reasons. The airport was reopened shortly after the bomb was removed from the area. The bomb was relocated to an area where it was properly disposed of through open detonation.

Upcoming UXO Related Events

Register now for the Fourth Annual Canadian DND UXO Forum hosted by the Department of National Defence UXO and Legacy Sites Program to be held in Quebec City, Canada from May 12 to 14, 2009.

Attend and learn about emerging technologies in the field of UXO detection, avoidance and clearance, participate in discussions on QA/QC, safety and communications while staying in beautiful and historical Quebec City.

A detailed program revolving around this year's theme of "Leveraging Technology to Safeguard the Public" is now available on the Forum Website.

For more information on the Forum or to register, visit http://www.goldenplanners.ca/UXO/2009/e/index.html

Established 35 years ago, EA Engineering, Science and Technology, Inc. is a small business, which has done nearly $1 Billion in HTRW/MEC investigation, restoration, design, and remediation in the last 15 years. EA has supported USACE, AFCEE, ANG and the Navy at thousands of sites nationwide under multiple DOD programs--including MMRP, SRP, IRP, FUDS and BRAC.

With 19 offices nationwide, EA is considered a leader in both HTRW and MEC. EA received the 2008 Environmental Business Journal Achievement Award for their work in the MEC Market. EA's staff of more than 400 professionals integrates MEC/UXO specialists, geologists, engineers, regulatory specialists, risk assessors, data management and communication specialists to provide practical solutions that help their clients achieve their business goals.

EA's standard of excellence is to consistently provide their clients with the highest level of technical competence, strong project management, worksite safety, quality control, and financial accountability.

For more information on EA, please visit their website at www.eaest.com.

Schonstedt Instrument Company is the world's leading manufacturer of hand-held Fluxgate magnetometers for UXO and weapons detection. Schonstedt magnetic locators find ferrous metal targets used in landmines, buried ordnance, other munitions and explosives of concern (MEC), and hidden weapons. They have been tested and proven by the US military, private contractors and NGOs in military and humanitarian de-mining operations around the globe. For a 1-page overview of the company's magnetic locator product line, go to www.findordnance.com

Schonstedt Instrument Company
100 Edmond Road
Kearneysville, WV 25430
USA
Contact: Tylee Ulmer

CH2M HILL is an industry leader providing munitions response services for planning, compliance, investigation and removal or remediation services. CH2M HILL provides the full scope of services required to support mission goals at sites suspected or known to have Munitions and Explosives of Concern (MEC) contamination, from environmental management and permitting to regulatory site closure and property transfer.

CH2M Hill is the only company that has a transportable Controlled Detonation Chamber (CDC) technology approved by the Department of Defense Explosives Safety Board (DDESB) for destruction of munitions, explosives, and energetics. CH2M HILL provides the following munitions response services:

• Characterization Services
• Removal/Remediation Services
• Digital Geophysical Mapping (DGM) Surveys
• Explosives Risk Assessments
• Regulatory Compliance
• Air Monitoring
• Chemistry Services
• Controlled Detonation Chamber (CDC) Technology

Information on Corporate Sponsorships can be found in the UXO Opportunities Brief. If you have any questions on Corporate Sponsorships or want to sign up, please contact the UXOInfo.com Marketing Coordinator, Ms. Jenna Coven at jenna@uxoinfo.com or 267.295.8010.

Bomb Disposal Team Responds to IED Scare on the Water

San Diego, California a U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST) found a suspicious object floating eight miles off-shore. The drifting box had wires protruding from it with an abandoned fish net wrapped around it. Concerned that that the item was an IED, the MSST established a security perimeter around the object while a Bomb Disposal Team from San Diego was called in for technical support.

The Bomb Disposal Team launched a remote operated vehicle to investigate the suspicious package further. Upon further review, the object was identified as an instrument package from a weather balloon. The package was then retrieved by the Coast Guard. It is unclear how the instrument package ended up in the ocean or what weather balloon it came from.

Explosives Find or False Alarm

Cushing, Oklahoma Workers renovating an old National Guard armory building came across several boxes marked "TNT" during lead paint and asbestos removal operations. The workers reported to find to police who responded with support provided by an Oklahoma State Bomb Squad. Testing conducted by the bomb squad confirmed that the substance believed at first to be TNT was actually flour and baking powder. Reportedly, the flour and baking powder were used to simulate explosives during previous National Guard training events. It is unknown exactly how long the boxes labeled TNT have been in storage or why they were left in the building. The building is owned by the state but will be transferred to the city after the lead paint and asbestos removal is complete.

Critical Mission Support Services (CMSS) is looking to immediately recruit professionals for the following positions:

• Senior UXO Supervisors
• UXO Safety Professionals
• Quality Assurance Manager
• Program Manager
• Project Chemist
• Corporate Quality Manager
• Senior Geophysicist
• Corporate Health and Safety Officer
• Property Manager

The focus of UXOInfo.com's UXO Resume Referral Service is to find qualified and available UXO professionals to fit the needs of your UXO project. Whether your project requires part-time temporary UXO professionals or full-time permanent placements, the UXO Resume Referral Service can help. To use the service, email us the specifications for your UXO project (e.g., location, scope, duration, levels and numbers of positions available). Based upon your specifics, UXOInfo.com then searchers the 100's of resumes in our UXO resume database to match qualified candidates that fit the specific needs and requirements of your project. UXOInfo.com contacts the qualified candidates directly to confirm their interest and availability. All qualified, available, and interested candidates are then forwarded to you for consideration. Affordable referral rates vary by position and the number of personnel needed.

For more information on the UXO Resume Referral Service, please contact the UXOInfo.com Marketing Coordinator, Jenna Coven at jenna@uxoinfo.com.

Enter your resume into the UXOInfo.com UXO Resume Database and start receiving offers and opportunities in the UXO industry. Use the UXO Profile Entry Form and complete your free profile today.

Farah Province, Afghanistan Staff Sgt Daniel L. Hansen (24) a Marine EOD Technician was killed while supporting combat operations. Sgt Hansen was assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 with the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. He reportedly lost his life to a roadside IED. He deployed to western Afghanistan in October as an individual augmentee to support EOD operations. Sgt Hansen leaves behind a twin brother who is also a Marine and a fiancé. He joined the Marines in 2002 after graduating high school.

Kirkuk, Iraq The 506th Air Expeditionary Group based at Kirkuk Regional Air Base in Iraq received a call to respond to a suspicions munition item. EOD responded and found what appeared to be a live rocket pointed towards the Coalition Forces Base Camp. EOD was unable to identify the exact type of rocket but had at least enough information (or so they thought) to perform a basic render safe procedure on the rocket so they could safely transport it back to Base Camp for further analysis.

When EOD returned to Base Camp with the ordnance, two EOD Airmen set up an x-ray system against the rocket in order to identify its contents. As the Airmen were walking away from the x-ray system, the rocket exploded sending a massive shock wave and fragmentation toward them. Luckily for the Airmen, several pieces of equipment (reported as a pressure washer and grill) blocked some of the frag. Other pieces of frag hit the two in their legs, arms and backs.

Article continued on UXOInfo.com.

Haebarucho, Japan two 6th grade boys found an unexploded artillery projectile about 100 meters away from their school. Curious about the find, the two decided to pick up the projectile and carry it to the entrance of the school to show others. The boys reportedly dropped the UXO off near the entrance of the school before heading to class.

Teachers quickly noticed the UXO and called to police who responded with technical support provided by a Japanese Ground Defense Force Bomb Disposal Unit. The projectile was identified as an unfuzed high explosive U.S. 90 mm projectile. The Bomb Disposal Team safely removed the projectile from the schoolyard and properly disposed of it in a remote location away from the school.