After five days, the action of microbes begins to degrade the explosives contamination in the soil. Samples of the composted material are then sent for laboratory analysis. The composting process takes less than 30 days before the level of contamination in the soil has been reduced to the cleanup standard established by the Environmental Protection Agency and the state of Oregon. When the composted material reaches the cleanup level, it is removed from the treatment building and another batch is prepared. The completed compost material is stockpiled for future disposal.
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