REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala.--Redstone will be performing interim remedial measures at known or suspect waste sites of chemical warfare materiel. Even though this recovery effort is scheduled to begin in 2013, extensive planning and coordination has already begun.

Redstone's history as an ordnance plant and chemical warfare depot in World War II produced munitions and chemicals that were later stored or buried after the war ended. Disposal regulations have changed in recent years to become more responsible to the environment.

In September 2010, Alabama issued a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act permit to Redstone Arsenal, citing 17 suspect CWM sites that need remediation. The RCRA permit governs the storage, treatment and disposal of hazardous waste, as well as corrective measures for multiple sites throughout Redstone Arsenal.

On March 29, an Interim Measures Work Plan was delivered to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management that lays out the scope of how Redstone will restore these 17 sites. Interim measures are defined in the RCRA permit as the actions necessary to limit environmental exposure to contaminants while long-term corrective action remedies are evaluated and, if necessary, implemented.

The 17 sites are located throughout the post; however, they are in more remote parts of the installation, and pose no immediate threat to human or animal inhabitants at Redstone, or the environment. Remediation will require a unique approach at each site, and will be determined through technologies and site-specific preparations.

"Redstone takes seriously our responsibility for a clean environment and community. The remediation of these 17 sites is the next phase in Redstone's commitment to environmental responsibility. It's the right thing to do," Maj. Gen. Jim Rogers, commander of AMCOM and Redstone Arsenal, said.

Remediation and restoration is scheduled to begin in 2013, pending full funding for this project through the Army Environmental Command.

The Army takes the responsibility of promoting and supporting public stakeholder participation in the cleanup process, and will make all site-level cleanup information available to the public. For more information call Environmental Management Division, Directorate of Public Works, at 955-6968.