An evaluation of the effectiveness of a best management practices (BMP) plan implemented at an outdoor rifle range
Contributors: Old Dominion University
Publisher: Old Dominion University; Available from National Technical Information Service
Published: 1997
Place of publication: Norfolk, Virginia; Springfield, Va
Language: eng
Number of pages: 60
Description: Lead contamination has been reported to be a problem at numerous military and civilian outdoor small arms      ranges. Several best management practices (BMPs) have been suggested to reduce the leachability of the lead      found in the soil. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of a particular BMP plan that was implemented during      the Fall of 1996 at the Naval Amphibious Base (NAB) Little Creek, located in Norfolk and Virginia Beach,      Virginia. NAB Little Creek's BMP implementation project included: (1) recovering bullets and bullet fragments      from the soil for recycling, (2) tilling amendments (lime, phosphorus fertilizer, and leaf mulch) into the soil, and      (3) planting vegetation (winter rye-grass) in the disturbed areas. Groundwater monitoring well samples drawn      before and after the BMP implementation project were statistically analyzed using non-parametric tests to      determine if the implemented BMP plan had any effect (positive, negative, or no effect) on the dissolved lead      concentrations found in the groundwater. The findings confirm that after implementation of the BMP plan, the      dissolved lead concentrations in the groundwater first went up in April 1997 then down in July 1997. A similar      up-down trend in dissolved lead concentrations occurred in the groundwater samples drawn from the outdoor      pistol range, even though no BMP project was performed there. Given the inconclusive nature of the findings,      additional data collection and study is warranted to further evaluate the effectiveness of the small arms range      BMP plan.
Notes: Thesis (Master of Engineering) Old Dominion University, August 1997.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 56-60)

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dk/dk cc:9116 08/28/97