range and munitions
management Program

Program Manager Contact Information:
Range and Munitions Management
Program Manager  |  252-466-3631

The intent of the Range and Munitions Management Program is to manage range activities at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, as they affect the environment. The program is designed to ensure compliance with environmental regulatory requirements affecting range and munitions activities, including stormwater, groundwater, erosion and sedimentation control, hazardous waste, air quality, and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Procedures for issuing and using ranges, as well as range safety, are managed by the Range Management Department and are not part of the Range and Munitions Management Program under the Environmental Affairs Department (EAD).

The Range and Munitions Management Program Manager will ensure that all activities occurring at the ranges are compliant with the applicable regulatory program. To that end, it is the responsibility of the Range and Munitions Management Program Manager to ensure that relevant EAD program managers are aware of the activities at the ranges and have provided guidance and procedures to maintain regulatory compliance at the ranges.

Marine Corps policy requires that all Marine Corps installations and activities comply with all applicable environmental requirements, which may include Federal, state, local, Department of Defense (DoD), Department of the Navy (DON), Marine Corps, and MCAS Cherry Point rules, regulations, and requirements. Legal and other environmental requirements related to the Range and Munitions Management Program are maintained on the EM Portal.

A complete description of the responsibilities of the Range and Munitions Management Program is available on the EM Portal. MCAS Cherry Point’s Range and Munitions Management Program responsibilities include:

• Environmental compliance at all active ranges

The Range and Munitions Management Program Manager serves as the environmental contact for any questions or issues regarding all active range sites. In addition, the Range and Munitions Management Program Manager oversees the Range Environmental Vulnerability Assessment (REVA) program. The purpose of the REVA program is to identify whether there is a release or substantial threat of a release of munition constituents from operational ranges or range complex areas to off‐range areas.

Environmental Compliance

To maintain environmental compliance, the Range and Munitions Management Program Manager coordinates with the appropriate EAD program manager. Prior to any significant new range activities, the Range and Munitions Management Program Manager reviews the proposed activity and discusses potential impact to environmental media with the corresponding EAD program managers and then implements any necessary actions.

The Hazardous Waste Program Manager must ensure that EAD Environmental Protection Specialists provide range personnel with refresher training (covered under annual hazardous waste training).

The risk of negative environmental impacts from MCAS Cherry Point operations may be assessed by analyzing the practices that occur at the facility. Aspects are the characteristics of these practices that can cause an impact to the environment or other resource. It is Marine Corps policy that all Marine Corps installations identify and assess the environmental risk of the practices and aspects associated with each environmental program. Significant practices and/or aspects associated with this program include:

• Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)/Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)/Hazardous waste generation
• Open burning/open detonation/Hazardous waste generation

The program was evaluated for Fiscal Year 2020. The evaluation indicates that there are no known off-range munition components that present a potential unacceptable risk to human health and the environment.

environmental risks posed by the facility’s practices and to track progress towards achieving environmental goals. Any O&Ts related to the Range and Munitions Management Program and their associated actions to improve performance are maintained on the EM Portal. Currently, there are no O&Ts associated with this program.

Inspection procedures for the EOD range are performed per the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) permit requirements presented in Module F of the permit application. In general, each subunit is routinely inspected and maintained to ensure safe operation of the unit. Maintenance includes items such as controlling vegetation growth within the boundaries of the EOD range, repairing cracks in the concrete containment pads, minor repairs to the containerized burn trays or kettle, repairing erosion control structures, and regrading access roads. Per the REVA program, soil and water samples are taken on a periodic basis to ensure that EOD range activities are not adversely affecting the environment. Residue from EOD range activities is accumulated in a satellite accumulation drum. This drum is inspected by EAD Environmental Protection Specialists on a weekly basis to ensure proper management of the residue.