# Presentation: 932349

## New Soil Interpretations for Homeland Security and Military

## Shortcomings identified in response to hurricane Katrina.
Soil Survey Division was asked to develop some National interpretations to dispose of by-products from National Emergencies (terrorist attacks, hazardous material spills, mad cow disease, avian flu, etc.)
NSSC put a team together to develop a  suite of National interps that would work for these scenarios.

- Soil Survey Division was asked to develop some National interpretations to dispose of by-products from National Emergencies (terrorist attacks, hazardous material spills, mad cow disease, avian flu, etc.)
- NSSC put a team together to develop a  suite of National interps that would work for these scenarios.

## Karl Hipple met with APHIS Washington DC and they were totally unaware of products that could be used in pre-event planning and thought NRCS was only involved in post-event activities such as clean up etc.  
APHIS (who is responsible for Regional Emergency Planning Team development, function, and pre-event trails of the process) provided input to the team and those criteria were also used to develop a package for NHQ and other agencies. 
These DHS (Department of Homeland Security) interps are posted on the SDM for all to use (State and Local Agencies included) mostly for pre-event planning but also to use when tests of the emergency planning functions occur.

- APHIS (who is responsible for Regional Emergency Planning Team development, function, and pre-event trails of the process) provided input to the team and those criteria were also used to develop a package for NHQ and other agencies.
- These DHS (Department of Homeland Security) interps are posted on the SDM for all to use (State and Local Agencies included) mostly for pre-event planning but also to use when tests of the emergency planning functions occur.

## The Military interps have been developed through work in Arkansas, Texas, Missouri, and Washington State from special requests that came from the Department of Defense.

The DOD formally asked to have the entire suite of military interps posted to the SDM for National Emergencies.  Justification is that every acre of the US is assigned to a DOD unit for National Emergencies and in order to plan all aspects of emergency measures and to implement emergency plans in case of the National Event, they wanted to have the military interps labeled as "National Interps" and posted to the SDM.

- The DOD formally asked to have the entire suite of military interps posted to the SDM for National Emergencies.  Justification is that every acre of the US is assigned to a DOD unit for National Emergencies and in order to plan all aspects of emergency measures and to implement emergency plans in case of the National Event, they wanted to have the military interps labeled as "National Interps" and posted to the SDM.

## Field soil scientists need to inform and reassure customers that DOD won't be building gun emplacements on their property or digging foxholes or landing helicopters.  The NRCS has been reassured that the DOD folks are mostly interested in the ability of various sizes and kinds of equipment to cross land to remove debris, carcasses, etc.

## New and Recent Interpretations

- DHS - Catastrophic Mortality, Large Animal Disposal, Pit
- DHS - Catastrophic Mortality, Large Animal Disposal, Trench
- DHS - Rubble and Debris Disposal, Large-Scale Event
- DHS - Site for Composting Facility – Subsurface
- DHS - Site for Composting Facility – Surface
- DHS - Suitability for Clay Liner Material
- DHS - Suitability for Composting Medium and Final Cover

## Scope of These Interpretations

- DHS - Catastrophic Mortality, Large Animal Disposal, Pit; and
- DHS - Catastrophic Mortality, Large Animal Disposal, Trench
- In the aftermath of a large event (natural or manmade) disposal of animal mortality could become a priority.  Burial is a viable option if soil and geopolitical considerations are agreeable.

- Leachate collection should be considered because the putrefication of one adult bovine is estimated to release 21 gallons of fluid in the first week and a total of about 42 gallons in the first month.  Collection of gases released during the decomposition process should also be considered.

## Slide 10

## Slide 11

## Scope of These Interpretations, continued

- DHS - Rubble and Debris Disposal, Large-Scale Event
- Property damage to homes and small commercial buildings will need to be addressed.  Materials from homes and the homes themselves will be damaged and contaminated (with mold, for example) beyond recovery.  Much of the material will not be recyclable and need to be disposed of.  If soil and geopolitical considerations allow it, burial is an option.

## Scope of These Interpretations, continued

- DHS - Site for Composting Facility – Subsurface; and
- DHS - Site for Composting Facility – Surface
- In the suburban environment, fallen landscape trees and limbs need to be disposed of after a major event (wind or ice storm).  Composting allows these materials to be recycled into a useable product.

## Scope of These Interpretations, continued

- DHS - Suitability for Clay Liner Material
- In many areas, the soil would be suitable for a disposal facility except that the subsoil allows too rapid of water transmission.  If a suitable material for a clay liner to slow water movement is available locally, these sites could be viable options for disposal facilities.

## Slide 15

## Scope of These Interpretations, continued

- DHS - Suitability for Composting Medium and Final Cover
- Soil material is mixed with the material being composted to aid microbial activity.  This soil needs to meet certain requirements in order to be useful as a medium.

## Soil Properties Used in Interpretations

**Depth to Saturation** – water table depth, wet soil is difficult to work, can have low bearing capacity, and ground water could be contaminated.
**Soil Depth** – Soil depth determines the thickness of the material available to attenuate or renovate any material moving through the soil.
**Landform Shape** – The shape of the landform determine whether it spreads or gathers water.  Water gathering landforms can have erosion or leaching problems.
**Clay Content** – Clayey soils can be difficult to work with machinery and hard to re-establish vegetation on.

## Soil Properties Used in Interpretations, continued

**Cation Exchange Capacity** – The ability of soil material to hold positively charged ions.
**Parent Material** – Some soils formed in material that can have solution channels (limestone) or fractures (basalt) that transport water quickly.
** ****Slope** – Excessive slope impacts soil trafficability and erosion hazard.
**Flooding**  – Flood water can move debris or contaminants as well as cause property damage.
**Ponding **- Surface water can become contaminated and creates problems for vehicular traffic.

## Slide 19

## Military Interpretations

- MIL – Bivouac Areas (DOD)
- MIL – Excavations Crew-Served Weapons Fighting Position (DOD)
- MIL – Excavations for Individual Fighting Position (DOD)
- MIL – Excavation for Vehicle Fighting Position (DOD)
- MIL – Helicopter Landing Zones (DOD)
- MIL – Trafficability Veh. Type ...

**Notes:**
This is a list of some of the current Military Interpretations.  Most of the interpretations revolve around answering a few questions such as: Can I dig a hole? How deep? Will it cave in on me?  Will it fill with water?  Will it flood in a rain storm?  Other questions are answered for trafficability and helicopter landing zones: Will the soil hold a vehicle? Will the surface become so slippery that the wheels will not grip?

**Notes:**
Let us look at a rule a little more closely.  This is a diagram of the Excavation for Individual Fighting Positions rule.  The various sub rules answer the questions.

## Slide 22

## Slide 23