WHITE HOUSE: BAN U.S. Burn Pits at Home and Overseas

In communities across America, open burning and detonation of hazardous waste explosives results in the uncontrolled release of toxic heavy metals, PFAS, energetic compounds, perchlorate, nitrogen oxides, dioxins and other carcinogens to the environment, placing the health of our soldiers, workers and neighbors at risk.

The Department of Defense currently operates 38 toxic burn sites in the U.S – almost all in low-income, rural communities. At these sites, the military collects excess, obsolete, or unserviceable munitions, including bullets, missiles, mines, and the bulk explosive and flammable materials used to manufacture them, and destroys them by adding diesel and lighting them on fire, or by blowing them up. Last fiscal year, the Department of Defense destroyed 32.7 million pounds of explosive hazardous waste on U.S. soil using these methods, known as open burning and open detonation.

How You Can Help

Below is a petition to the President, U.S. EPA Administrator, and all ten Regional Administrators.

You may add a personal note by clicking anywhere in the “Your Message” field and typing. Recipients typically give much greater weight to a petition with a personal note. Then complete the form below and click ‘Submit’.