What is UXO?

Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) refers to explosiveA substance or mixture of substances that can undergo a rapid anaerobic chemical change generating large quantities of energy. devices (military munitionsMunitions created for the purpose of national defense and security, including ammunition products or components under the control of the Department of Defense, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the National Guard. The term does not include wholly inert items, improvised explosiveA substance or mixture of substances that can undergo a rapid anaerobic chemical change generating large quantities of energy. devices, and nuclear weapons, nuclear devices, and nuclear components, other than non-nuclear components of nuclear devices that are managed under the nuclear weapons program of the Department of Energy. such as bombs, rockets, missiles, grenades, and landmines) that were deployed, but did not detonate as intended.  These munitions have been prepared for action (i.e. primed, fused, or armed) and deployed in a manner to pose a risk to operations, installations, or personnel, yet remain unexploded for various reasons such as malfunction or design, among other reasons [1]. UXO presents a tremendous risk to day to day operations in a given area, even after decades of dormancy. UXO exists worldwide, and poses a potentially lethal risk in any area in which it is present.

The threat presented by UXO is rivaled only by its prevalence. Unexploded Ordnance dating as far back as the late 1800’s is encountered domestically and abroad in nearly every industrialized country. In former combat areas or former defense sitesLocations that are or were possessed or used by the Department of Defense. The term does not include any operational range, operating storage or manufacturing facility, or facility that is used for or was permitted for the treatment or disposal of military munitionsMunitions created for the purpose of national defense and security, including ammunition products or components under the control of the Department of Defense, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the National Guard. The term does not include wholly inert items, improvised explosiveA substance or mixture of substances that can undergo a rapid anaerobic chemical change generating large quantities of energy. devices, and nuclear weapons, nuclear devices, and nuclear components, other than non-nuclear components of nuclear devices that are managed under the nuclear weapons program of the Department of Energy.. (10 U.S.C. 2710(e)(1)) (such as firing ranges and testing sites). Particularly heavy concentrations of UXO exist in regions that have encountered substantial bombing during past wars. Such regions include Germany, France, Belgium, Lebanon, the United Kingdom, and particularly Laos, which remains the most heavily bombed country in history. In Laos alone, UXO has taken more than 50,000 lives since 1964.

The imminent threat of UXO-related casualties or property damage is not restricted to heavily-bombed or war-torn countries; the United States and Canada are also heavily affected. The Environmental Protection Agency, in 2002, declared that UXO poses “an imminent and substantial” health risk, and may require the most costly domestic environmental clean-up in history, costing a minimum of 14 billion dollars.  In the former Southwestern Proving Ground, located in Arkansas, there remain an estimated 1000 UXO per acre.  The actual UXO found on a site often far exceeds the estimates.  For example, the UXO located at the former Lowry bombing range in Colorado was estimated to have a density of 0.4 per acre. Upon excavation, however, unexploded ordnance in the area was found at a density of 38 per acre; 95-times higher than estimated.  UXO has been found at 16,000 inactive military ranges in the United States. Taken together, the UXO-contaminated sites comprise roughly 15 million acres; an area roughly the size of Florida.

The prevalence of UXO throughout the U.S. can lead to a widespread rate of incidents. As of 2001, only 17 states in the U.S. had not encountered a UXO-related incident. The inherent dangers associated with UXO can largely be attributed to the deterioration of the detonator and main charge. Such deterioration makes these already volatile components more sensitive to disturbance. Munitions that were once deemed “duds” and discarded can pose a potent threat due to their volatile natures. Recently 4 incidents of exploding duds left 5 children dead and 9 more injured across Virginia, New Jersey, and Oklahoma. Similar incidents resulting in massive damages to property, death, and injury have occurred across the country. The overwhelming majority, if not all, of the occurring incidents could have been avoided were they handled by properly-trained UXO TechniciansPersonnel who are qualified for and filling Department of Labor, Service Contract Act, Directory of Occupations, and contractor positions of UXO Technician I, UXO Technician II, and UXO Technician III.. It is universally recommended that unexploded ordnance should not be touched or handled by unqualified persons; only properly trained professionals can safely neutralize the threat posed by the discarded munitions.

[1] USAEC; http://aec.army.mil/usaec/technology/uxo00.html