DSHW-2016-015497 - 0901a06880695ae3

December 19, 2016
Orbital ATK
Dfc/of Waste Management
and Radiation Control
DEC 2 1,2016
Scott T. Anderson
Utah Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Waste Management Radiation Control
DSW-W-OISWI
PO Box 144880
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-4880
RE: Request for Emergency Permit to Burn Aircraft Dropped or Ground Launched
Flares in Place at the Kosmo Test Range, ATK Launch Systems-Promontory.
January 1, 2017 - March 31, 2017; UTD009081357v^'
Dear Mr. Anderson:
ATK Launch Systems, Inc. (ATK) requests a 90-day emergency permit to burn aircraft
dropped and ground launched flares in-place if they fail to ignite, partially ignite or are
otherwise deemed unsafe after deployment. The time period for this permit would be from
January 1 - March 31, 2017.
ATK currently has contracts in-place with the Department of Defense to manufacture decoy
and illumination flares over the next few years. These contracts require regular testing of
flares. The test requirements mandate flare deployment in the method they were designed.
As such, they must be ground launched or dropped from aircraft to simulate actual field
conditions. A small percentage of these flares may not deploy as designed and may land
partially or completely unburned. As a result, the ignition system may become
compromised making it unsafe to move the flare(s). ATK’s Test Services and the Safety
Department have determined that in this instance, the only safe way to handle these un­
burned flares is to burn them in-place.
Testing of these flares is conducted between Salt Wells Flat and Monument Point in Box
Elder County, in an area commonly called Kosmo. ATK has an agreement issued by the
Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands to perform these tests. The special use lease
agreement number is #30000038.
The flares to be tested and covered under this permit include the LUU-19, LUU-1, LUU2-
C/B, M257 and M278. These flares range in weight from 5 to 30 lbs. and contain various
combinations of the following ingredients:
• sodium nitrate
• magnesium powder
• potassium nitrate
• cesium nitrate
• silicon
• hexamine
• polyester binder
Orbital ATK, Inc.P.O. Box 707, Brigham City, UT 84302-0707 • 435-863-3511
December 19, 2016
Mr. Scott T. Anderson, Director
Utah Division of Waste Management Radiation Control
Orbital ATI
After testing or burning in-place is completed for a given day, the flare residue and debris is
collected and transported to our Promontory facility for proper disposal.
ATK will notify the following agencies prior to each use of this permit, or as directed by the
agency:
• Box Elder Fire Marshall’s Office
• Bear River Health Department
• Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands
Upon expiration of the emergency permit, ATK will request a new permit for an additional 90
days to allow continued testing at the Kosmo range. Likewise, a report will be prepared
describing our activities during the previous permitting period.
ATK appreciates the Division’s cooperation in enabling us to manage these unburned flares
in a safe and responsible manner. If you have any questions or need additional
clarifications, please contact Jason Wells at (435)-863-6895.
Sincerely,
George Gooch
Manager, Environmental Services
C: Jeff Vandel, DWMRC
Central File