Orienting investigation (Phase IIa) of the Bad Arolsen site shooting range, Bad Arolsen

A business unit (BU) with five different suspected contamination areas identified in the previous phase I was considered. The target/bullet trap areas of the individual shooting ranges represent the suspected contamination areas.

The WE was used by the Bundeswehr as a firing range between 1964 and 1997. Before that, the area was used for agriculture. In 2002, the site was handed over to the Bundesanstalt für Immobilienaufgaben (Federal Agency for Real Estate) and is now being examined for harmful soil changes in the course of a planned restitution measure.

The aim of the orienting investigation was to examine possible contamination under consideration of the impact pathway soil-human. Within the framework of the project, orienting investigations of the topsoil of the shooting range areas were carried out. In order to obtain a reliable statement as to whether projectile residues might be found in the mounds, these were examined by means of trenching. Furthermore, trenches were also made in the target/ball trap area of the long courses for closer examination.

The results of the investigations and the chemical analyses are documented and evaluated in an expert report. A risk assessment was carried out with regard to the soil-human impact pathway and recommendations for measures were formulated.