Temporary Emergency Permit to Burn Unstable High Explosives at the Mojave Airport, Kern County
Summary
SCH Number
2007098016
Public Agency
Department of Toxic Substances Control
Document Title
Temporary Emergency Permit to Burn Unstable High Explosives at the Mojave Airport, Kern County
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/4/2007
Document Description
A temporary emergency Hazardous Waste Treatment Permit has been granted to Alpha Explosives to treat 74 boxes of commercial 1.1D high explosive, totaling approximately 4,000 pounds, by open burn. The hazardous waste is from a fire and explosion at the Mojave Airport on June 3, 2007, which caused explosives to be expelled from Alpha Explosives' explosive storage area.
The explosives have been damaged so that they cannot be safely used or stored. Because the Department of Transportation packaging has been compromised, they cannot by moved on public roads, so they must be treated on site. The permit is effective from August 9 to August 17, 2007. The burn will take place as weather conditions permit.
The activity will take place at a rocket engine test site, which is located at a remote section of the Mojave Airport, approximately one-half mile from the explosive storage area. Treatment will be carried out by Alpha Explosives personnel, under a permit issued by the Kern County Fire Department for Burning of Scrap Explosives. The rocket engine test site is a concrete pad covered by a sheet steel plate and surrounded by earthen berms. The test site has steel trays to contain the waste. The burn will be initiated with approximately 25 gallons of kerosene. Access roads to the test site area will be barricaded during the burn. The burn will be monitored by remote video. Once activities have been completed, the treatment area will be cleared of all residential hazardous waste generated from this emergency treatment and all generated waste will be properly disposed of.
Contact Information
Name
Beverly Rikala
Agency Name
California Department of Toxic Substances Control
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Mojave
Counties
Kern
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Emergency Project
Type, Section or Code
Section 15269(b)(c)
Reasons for Exemption
This is necesssary to prevent an emergency. The Kern County Fire Department and the Kern County Environmental Health Services Department have deemed the situation to be of an immediate and imminent danger. The proposed burn will be performed in a manner that minimizes potential environmental effects or impacts.
Disclaimer: The document was originally posted before CEQAnet had the capability to host attachments for the public. To obtain the original attachments for this document, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. You may also contact the OPR via email at state.clearinghouse@opr.ca.gov or via phone at (916) 445-0613.