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We are investigating the phenomenology of disturbed soil signature due to mine emplacement. Non-imaging spectral sensors and high-frequency radars are being used to collect disturbed soil signatures over a wide range of geo-environmental conditions. The properties and processes of the disturbed soil that can be exploited to assist in the detection of buried landmines are first identified. This will be followed by time series investigation to understand the effects of weathering on these properties and processes. Our goal is to provide a quantitative assessment of remote electro-optical and radar techniques for reliably detecting disturbed soil due to mine emplacement., See also ADM001736, Proceedings of the Army Science Conference (24th) held in Orlando, FL on 29 Nov-2 Dec 2004.

This work describes the evaluation of the impacts of the training activities in CFB Sbilo training area and is the continuation of the first phase done in Sept 2000. During the first phase, three battleruns were sampled for energetic materials, metals, VOCs and petroleum products to measure their impacts on soils and biomass, as well as on subsurface soils, surface water and ground water in the training areas. Such an assessment required an appropriate definition and understanding of the geological and hydrogeological context of the site. During the second phase, the two remaining battleruns, the rifle and the grenade ranges were sampled according to procedures described in this report. Since some trends were encountered in phase I around target areas, more specific sampling, including biomass samples was conducted. Explosives, 232Thorium and heavy metals analyses revealed some localized problems related to environmental contamination and trends were observed that could be related to the firing activities. Some mitigation techniques are proposed for the identified problematic areas. Thorium analyses revealed a localized impact close to the targets both in surface soils and in ground water. The distribution of this chemical was not fully understood and more analyses were done at the end of the summer 2002 to establish if the concentrations in ground water are increasing or decreasing. Nevertheless, the concentrations of thorium in groundwater do not represent a threat being 10 times below the CCME criteria., Prepared in collaboration with ERDC/EL, lnstitut national de Ia recherche scientifique, and Science and Technology Corporation.

Troop readiness requires live fire training with various types of ammunitions. More than 99.99 % of the Canadian ammunition stockpile is used in our Country in training exercises. By better understanding the potential environmental impacts of each type of live firing activity, the Department of National Defence (DND) will be able to mitigate potential adverse effects by adapting the practices to minimize such adverse impacts. In this context, the Director Land Environment (OLE) tasked DRDC-Val to initiate a R&D program invoMng the environmental characterization of their main training areas to improve the knowledge on the impacts of many types of live firing training activities. DRDC-Valcartler managed the overall work and performed the surface soils and biomass studies in collaboration with Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) scientists. The second site selected for the study was CFB Gagetown based on its intensive use by our force and allied forces and based on its geological and geographical context. In 2001, hydrogeological work was conducted in the northern half of the CFB Gagetown. This first phase involved the sampling of 42 wells to characterize the underlying groundwater flow dynamics as well as the chemical characterization of the groundwater quality. In 2002, a second phase was undertaken, including the drilling of more wells mostly in the southern half of the base and the collection of surface soils and biomass at selected locations over the entire base. This report details the surface soils and biomass characterisation of Gagetown main training ranges while a second report will be published on the hydrogeological context of the training area. Both energetic materials and metals were analysed in surface soil samples while only metals were analysed in the biomass samples. Various types of ranges were sampled including, antiarmour, antitank, grenade and rifle ranges as well as artillery Impact areas., Prepared in collaboration with INRS-Eau, Terre et Environnement and CFB Gagetown.