Explosives removed from new bunkers

Newly built Canadian Forces ammunition storage bunkers in Nova Scotia that cost taxpayers more than $13 million have been so plagued by problems the military has been forced to remove all explosives from them because of safety concerns.

Department of National Defence civilian crews worked overtime to remove the torpedoes, missiles and other explosives from the seven new storage bunkers at Canadian Forces Ammunition Depot Bedford several weeks ago.

However, the older bunkers to which the explosives were moved have since been declared unsafe and off-limits to personnel because of the presence of asbestos. “The ammo is still in those magazines but it’s not accessible by staff,” said Lt.- Cmdr. Greg Walker, the depot’s commanding officer. “We just can’t allow anyone to go in there until it is cleaned up.”

The problems at the depot emerged after a recent safety inspection revealed flaws with the seven new bunkers, which opened in the fall. Officials discovered the bunkers, or magazines as the military calls them, were not covered with the required amount of gravel, which is put in place to contain any accidental detonation inside the magazines.

Some of the motors that opened and closed the bunkers’ steel doors were also found to have malfunctioned.

The problems led to the relocation of the explosives, but Walker said the older bunkers to which the ammunition was moved had been slated for demolition and so had not been properly maintained. Paint on the inside walls had peeled off, releasing asbestos into the air.

“The paint encapsulates the old asbestos,” Walker said. “We got a report that there was an asbestos release and we had to close some of those magazines.”

The military now has approval to store a smaller amount of ammunition in five of the seven new bunkers, he said, but has yet to move the explosives back to those locations.

Walker said it will be up to officials from DND and from Defence Construction Canada, the Crown corporation which signed off on and co-ordinated the bunker project, to deal with contractors over any necessary repairs.

But John MacLennan, national president of the Union of National Defence Employees, said the union raised concerns several years ago about shoddy workmanship on projects handled by Defence Construction Canada. Politicians promised action but none was taken, he said.

“You’re seeing the results today,” said MacLennan, whose union represents the workers at the ammo depot. “This is not only unsafe for our members and the public but it will cost taxpayers millions of dollars more to fix.”

In February the CBC reported that a Forces study had warned there was a high risk of fire at the Bedford depot.

“The fire effect severity is set at catastrophic,” said the report from the Canadian Forces fire marshal.