Resources

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) :Also known as Superfund. Originally signed into law by President Jimmy Carter on Dec. 11, 1980, the Act was amended and reauthorized in 1986. CERCLA provides the legal framework for cleanup of hazardous waste sites. Costs for the cleanup are charged to those parties responsible for the pollution. Where no responsible party can be found, cleanup is paid for by tax revenues collected from the petrochemical industry. The Installation Restoration Program is the Department of Defense’s cleanup regulation, which is based mainly on CERCLA. The MMRP is utilizing CERCLA processes in its cleanup.

Defense Environmental Restoration Program (DERP) :The Department of Defense funding program for the Installation Restoration Program. The money comes out of the Defense Environmental Restoration Account (DERA), which is taken from the annual defense budget.

Discarded military Munitions (DMM):Military munitions that have been abandoned without proper disposal or removed from storage in a military magazine or other storage area for the purpose of disposal. The term does not include unexploded ordnance (UXO), military munitions that are being held for future use or planned disposal, or military munitions that have been properly disposed of consistent with applicable environmental laws and regulations.

Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) :A DoD program that focuses on compliance and cleanup efforts at sites that were formerly used by the DoD. A FUDS property is eligible for the Military Munitions Response Program if the release occurred prior to October 17, 1986; the property was transferred from DoD control prior to October 17, 1986; and the property or project meets other FUDS eligibility criteria.

Munitions and explosives of concern (MEC) :This distinguishes specific categories of military munitions that may pose unique explosives safety risks, means unexploded ordnance, DMM, or munitions constituents (e.g., Trinitrotoluene [TNT] or Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine [RDX]) present in high enough concentrations to pose an explosive hazard.

Munitions constituents (MC) :Any materials originating from unexploded ordnance, DMM, or other military munitions, including explosive and non-explosive materials, and emission, degradation, or breakdown elements of such ordnance or munitions.

Munitions Debris (MD):Remnants of military munitions (e.g., fragments, penetrators, projectiles, shell casings, links, fins) after military munitions use or demilitarization.

Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) :The amendments clarified many public participation questions and made federal facilities accountable under the statute.

Unexploded ordnance (UXO) :Military munitions that have been primed, fused, armed, or otherwise prepared for action; have been fired, dropped, launched, projected, or placed in such a manner as to constitute a hazard to operations, installations, personnel, or material; and remain unexploded either by malfunction, design, or any other cause.