The use of historical evidence in studies on underwater munitions

Souchen, Alex

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112274

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Contractors might have ignored their initial dumping guidelines, starting to dump the barrels along the way to the designated areas, a common practice known as en-route dumping (Böttcher et al 2011 , 2015 ). As Souchen argues ( 2021a , 2021c , 2021d ), the military frequently relies on private contractors to execute operations involving the disposal of munitions into water. Their involvement often complicates the military’s overall control of the process.…”

Section: Management Complexitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Until the 1970s, dumping military waste in aquatic environments was a common method of disposal. Historians, scientists, and engineers have conducted historical research and explored the historic context and environmental concerns related to marine dumping and its regulation in the 1970s (Arison 2013 ; Carton and Jagusiewicz 2009 ; Hamblin 2008 ; Jenks 2007 ; Mitchell 2020 ; Müller 2016 ; Souchen 2017 , 2020 , 2021a , 2021b ). However, fewer historians have examined military waste disposal within freshwater lakes, apart from military dumping in Swiss lakes (Charrière 2019 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dumping military waste into Lake Superior: the historic legacies of secrecy, censorship, and uncertainty

Charrière

Langston

2023

Water Hist

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In recent years, the issue of military waste disposal in oceans and seas has gained significant attention; however, the impact of such waste in freshwater deposits has been understudied. The Laurentian Great Lakes of North America contain 20% of the world’s fresh surface water and are particularly vulnerable to environmental stressors such as climate change, invasive species, and toxic chemicals, making the examination of military waste management in these waters crucial. This interdisciplinary study aims to investigate the legacy of two military waste disposal sites in Lake Superior, referred to as Site A (containing barrels) and Site B (containing bullets). Both are located within the ceded territories of the Ojibwe. Despite being in close proximity, these sites have had vastly different outcomes in terms of public concern, state and federal regulatory actions, and tribal restoration efforts. Based on this observation, this study aims to answer the following questions: How did these differences develop? How did military secrecy and the loss of memory influence the management of underwater military waste at each site? How do uncertainties and rumors continue to influence citizen concern and agency management of military waste? We argue for the importance of investigating the environmental legacies of underwater military waste in order to protect inland freshwater resources worldwide.

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Section: Management Complexitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%