Weapons Compound gets needed renovation

Naval Submarine Base New London's Weapons Compound, Building 325, recently received a $532,000 cooperative renovation to remove lead paint from the building. The lead paint inside the building, which has occupied a place on SUBASE since 1955, was completely removed from floor to ceiling and was then repainted by crews from Environmental Specialists, Inc., and Yankee Fiber Control, Inc., with total cooperation from Naval Submarine Support Facility (NSSF) New London personnel. The secure weapons compound area and building houses the weapons payload for boats based here. The personnel who work there ensure that all weapons are maintained, inspected and function properly pending delivery to the boats on the waterfront.

The completion of the project was the realization of more than a year of work to appropriate funding and manpower by NSSF and particularly by Lt. Cmdr. Kurt Stronach, NSSF weapons officer.

Building 325 was tested and identified by Naval Analytical Lab, Naval Environmental Preventive Medicine Unit Two, Norfolk, Va., to contain lead paint in 2001. Upon their arrival on SUBASE in 2004, Stronach and Chief Machinist's Mate (SS) Danny T. Rier, NSSF production officer, made the project a top priority.

The contractors used innovative techniques in the removal of the lead-based paint that included the use of a dry ice machine actuator which made certain all areas of the building were free of dust and particles normally associated with lead paint removal. Original plans called for a sandblaster and dust collector, two separate machines, to complete the task. The dry ice machine actuator eliminated the need for the two machines and was also fueled more efficiently, running off of electricity as opposed to diesel fuel. The techniques used and the cooperation between NSSF, Environmental Specialists, Inc., and Yankee Fiber Control, Inc., cut the work by one-third of the allotted time for the project.

According to Rier, "Cooperation made everything go as smooth as possible. Never impacting one another negatively brought outstanding results and got the job done significantly ahead of schedule."

Capt. R. J. Petry, commanding officer Naval Submarine Support Facility said, "Between the contractors, outside activities and NSSF we worked well as a team to accomplish a goal ahead of schedule by four weeks."

During the project, NSSF personnel still met all commitments and issued the necessary weapons needed out to the fleet.

Environmental Specialists, Inc., Site Superintendent J. Christopher Archer and Yankee Fiber Control, Inc., Site Supervisor David DelleFemine said the Navy provided great support. They also said without the support, the job would not have been finished as quickly and efficiently.

Photo Courtesy NSSF

Naval Submarine Base New London's Weapons Compound (Building 325) recently received a $532,000 renovation to remove lead-based paint from the interior. Building 325 is used to inspect, repair and make weapon preparations for delivery to submarines on the waterfront by NSSF personnel.