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Planning Considerations for Munitions-Related Infrastructure
Authors
Lea Ann Cotton, CSP, P.E.;
Department of Defense Explosives Safety Board; Alexandria, Virginia, USA
Arthur S. Kaminski;
Department of Defense Explosives Safety Board; Alexandria, Virginia, USA
Keywords
Infrastructure, Master Planning, AMO-CAT
Abstract
The Department of Defense (DoD) is pursuing a number of initiatives aimed at better integration
of explosives safety and planning. At its core explosives safety is community planning. DoD
criteria require the use of explosives safety separation distances in order to provide acceptable
levels of protection to personnel, property, and assets exposed to the hazardous effects from an
explosives event. The application of explosives safety separation distances provides a simplified
approach for providing acceptable levels of protection. The building and maintenance of
protective structures can reduce these distances. A few initiatives underway are addressing these
planning considerations. For example, DoD is undertaking a Structural Integrity Study to
analyze its earth-covered magazines. The study will determine the physical condition, expected
remaining service life, and needed maintenance for magazines, many of which were built in the
World War II era. The output of the study includes an overall health rating, an updated
explosives safety rating, and recommended maintenance for every magazine analyzed. An
accurate explosives safety rating is critical since separation distances are based on these ratings.
Additionally DoD is developing a web based application to illustrate the relationship between
explosives facilities and surrounding buildings. Another study examined the integration of
considering munitions-related infrastructure in the DoD acquisition program. All of these
initiatives underscore the necessity of close cooperation and the value of synergy between the
explosives safety and planning communities.
Introduction
U.S. military infrastructure, including munitions-related infrastructure, is critical to DoD’s ability
to perform ground, air, maritime, and sea-based missions in support of the national security and
defense strategies. The Military Services, the Combatant Commanders, Joint and Allied Forces
rely extensively on U.S. military infrastructure to train personnel, perform and sustain missions,
as well as maintain quality of life for the military members and their families.
Military munitions are simultaneously key strategic, operational, and tactical assets essential to
mission accomplishment, and when not maintained and managed as prescribed they can become
liabilities that have destroyed entire military installations and surrounding communities. In
