In February 2002, DND established the Warfare Agent disposal (WAD) Project, with objectives to identify ocean and land-based sites of Chemical and Biological Warfare Agents and Munitions (CB WAM) in Canada and Canadian waters; to evaluate the risks of these sites; and to characterize and prioritize sites for action as necessary. The ultimate intent of the project is to understand, and address the risks posed by these materials to humans and the environment.  Using established principles of science and relevant literature regarding the fate and behaviour of CWAM and its containers at deep-ocean sites, NOTRA was contracted to predict the marine environment and possible conditions of CWAM and it containers at each of the three (3) identified CWAM sites.  For each of the possible conditions, NOTRA conducted a risk assessment to evaluate the risk to both human health and the environment.  The assessment was quantitative to the extent possible, understanding that assumptions were made as no physical investigations had been conducted to date.  Where impacts to the environment were identified, an assessment as to the significance of the impact on the marine ecosystem population was done.  The following summarizes work-plan/deliverables:

• Characterize to the best possible extent the deep ocean environments at each site, including identification of potential environmental marine receptors of concern;
• Predict quantities &concentrations of CWAM present at each site based on historical review of disposal activities, types of CWAM deposited, date of disposal, integrity of CWAM containers, CWAM chemical reactions, decomposition &dispersion of CWAM within the environment;
• Determine CWAM release mechanisms based on degradation or failure of the containers;
• Identify exposure pathways associated with marine receptors of concern;
• Determine % of human exposure to chemical agents of concern due to inadvertent recovery;
• Conduct hazard assessments based on potential human exposure to chemical agents;
• Conduct acute and chronic toxicity assessments based on the estimated concentrations of CWAM and marine receptors of concern;
• Quantify the risks to human health and ecological receptors of concern based on conservative projections of CWAM concentrations, release mechanisms, exposure assessments, exposure pathways, and CWAM toxicity;
• Evaluate the risks associated with potential recovery of CWAM;
• Compare the risks associated with deep ocean sites relative to other CWAM disposal sites;
• Determine data gaps in current knowledge; and
• Develop appropriate risk mitigation/remedial measures to address issues of concern.