RADFORD, Va. --Lt. Col. James Scott, commander, Radford Army Ammunition Plant, spoke during a March 20th community meeting concerning new initiatives to environmental remediation.
Scott announced a "Commander's Environmental Stewardship Challenge" that would reduce energetic waste treatments from the ground during open burn/open denotation by 50 percent by the year 2023. These efforts will reduce lead, waste, power, and nitrates released into the air, water, and soil.
Scott emphasized the importance of the environmental initiatives. He challenged the RFAAP team to think, innovate, and act beyond compliance. "We're committed to working with you, [community] members, we strive to be as transparent as possible on these things."
Radford's Environmental Protection Agency permit estimates the potential environmental effects from OB/OD. Local residents have concerns about the plant's OB/OD process polluting the air, water, and soil.
"We still have a lot of work to do," Scott said during the meeting. The RFAAP staff is currently working with Virginia Tech to monitor and sample the lead being released in the soil, water, and air to determine the best environmental solution.
The RFAAP staff also briefed on the Army's $100 million energetic waste incinerator project, which will consume 95 percent of the munitions waste the installation creates. The design is almost complete, but awaiting federal approval, and an application is to be submitted to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality by the end of spring. If approved by the U.S. Senate, the project would require 34 months to complete by 2023.
The commander also announced the next community meeting scheduled on June 21 that will provide a short tour for the group that regularly attends the RFAAP quarterly meetings.
This quarterly community meeting was held at the Christiansburg, Virginia Library with senior representatives from RFAAP and BAE Systems, the operating contractor, and approximately 30 community members. The meeting was also viewed by more than 500 community members by live-stream.
Scott concluded the meeting by emphasizing these efforts "focus on you…the teammates and partners that have been on this journey with us. Our staff is passionate about what they do."
Team Radford's mission is to provide America's Warfighters with superior performing propellants, energetics and munitions, in order to enable engagement and destruction of targets with total confidence. In addition, RFAAP has embarked upon a transformation/modernization effort. This modernization will result in a modern, flexible and efficient facility that reduces the Army's operating and production costs. This modernization will also ensure continued support to the Department of
Defense Warfighting requirements.
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