Issue Position: Norton Gets Long-Term Commitment on Spring Valley As Munitions Are Identified

Issue Position

After the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that it had found what appeared to be the last of the munitions first uncovered in the Northwest neighborhood of Spring Valley more than 16 years ago, Norton worked to ensure: (1) Instead of closing the book on its 16 years of recovery effort, the Corps will remain on standby in case more munitions are suspected or found; (2) Spring Valley remains the most important Formerly Used Defense Site in the country, and that funds will be made available as part of the Army Corps' annual appropriation for such sites; and (3) After initial resistance to Norton's insistence that the Corps identify the munitions and toxins it had found at the site, Corps officials provided the full list. Findings included three chemical munitions -- 75 mm arsine projectiles, a 75 mm mustard gas projectile, and a 75 mm lewisite projectile -- among other projectiles and shrapnel. After inspection by Norton, the munitions were destroyed at a Corps Explosive Destruction System site using a state-of-the-art system for disposal, rather than taking munitions through neighborhood streets, which posed a greater danger to Spring Valley and other neighborhoods. The Congresswoman has repeatedly toured the Spring Valley munitions site and has held numerous hearings to monitor the work of the Corps.

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