Stuart Z. Cohen, Ph.D., CGWP
Environmental & Turf Services, Inc.
Presented at the Fourth National Shooting Range Symposium, Phoenix, AZ (June, 2000) and published in the Proceedings
Abstract
Lead and arsenic are the principle contaminants of concern at shooting ranges. Compounds of both elements are analyzed easily and relatively inexpensively. For outdoor ranges, measurement of soil properties relevant to the retention of metals and water also is an important component of the following activities: preparing a Best Management Practices program; conducting a risk assessment for lead and arsenic in soils, water and aquatic sediments; and as part of a range cleanup action. Total lead and arsenic residues should be analyzed in addition to soil properties such as pH, cation exchange capacity, phosphorus content and organic matter. Outdoor ranges have suffered unnecessarily when the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) is misused to exhaustively extract lead and arsenic from active shooting range soils. These results often exceed the 5 parts per million regulatory limit, which could classify the soil as a hazardous waste. A more desirable method to measure the mobility of lead and arsenic in shooting range soils is the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Procedure, EPA Method 1312. This method simulates acid rain. Costs for single tests are minimal, but a complete site assessment can be quite expensive.