ANDREWS AMENDMENT REQUIRES ARMY TO ENSURE THERE IS NO HEALTH IMPACT FROM DUMPED MUNITIONS

The U.S. House passed an amendment by Congressman Andrews requiring the Department of Defense to determine whether military munitions disposal sites in the Atlantic Ocean, at least 10 miles off the coast of the United States, are a threat to public health and provide their findings to Congress.  The Army will have to include the location of each ocean military dump site and a study on the impact of these dumps on nearby human populations in its report. Ultimately, this study will enable Congress to determine whether there is any public health threat posed by these sites.

From World War I until the early 1970’s, sea disposal of military munitions was a common practice. Both conventional and chemical munitions were disposed of this way, including containers of bulk chemical agent such as mustard, sarin, and VX gas.  It is vital for the health and well-being of this country’s citizens to identify these dumps and assess the potential risks they present.

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