Chapter 7
BATTLE AREA CLEARANCE (BAC)
1.
INTRODUCTION
1.1
BAC is the systematic search and controlled clearance of hazardous areas
where the hazards are known not to contain mines. It involves the removal and/or
destruction of all UXO and their component parts which would otherwise pose a
significant threat to the local population and progresses through the identification of
a hazardous area achieved by detailed reconnaissance to the reporting and
registration of its completion to UNMAO. Whilst individual areas will vary from
location to location the basic principals of conduct will remain the same
1.2
BAC may involve the clearance of bunkers and ammunitions stockpiles that
includes stockpiles left in any ammunition storage type facility whether it be a
purpose built or a field storage facility. This type of clearance requires a defined,
controlled and systematic clearance and recovery procedure.
1.3
BAC planning shall include the preparation of appropriate procedures for
neutralisation and disarming of all types of UXO likely to be encountered, the use
of suitably trained and qualified personnel and the use of effective and safe
equipment, stores and supplies.
1.4
Personnel who have successfully completed the Basic Deminer Training
Course may be used to man BAC Teams following specific BAC and basic EOD
training. BAC Supervisors should be qualified to EOD Level 3 and BAC Team
Leaders should be qualified to EOD Level 2.
2.
BASIC PROCEDURES
Phase of BAC All BAC tasks shall have the following five phases which may
2.1
differ in proportion and conduct depending on the task type and task priority given
by the UNRMAO.
a.
Reconnaissance: This is the identification and selection of a
hazardous area for clearance.
b.
Survey: This is the definition, registration and mapping of a
hazardous area. With areas that have been subjected to sub-munitions
attack this will mean defining the actual contaminated footprint.
c.
Marking: This is the physical marking of the defined hazardous area
which, regardless of the method of search to be employed should conform
to the requirements of ’Site Preparation and Setting Out’ a minefield (see
Chapter 2) and include benchmark, datum point, start point, turning points,
boundary lines and lanes, intermediate lanes and other defined
requirements.
d.
BAC: This is the clearance by systematic search, detection and
removal of all UXO within the marked area.
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e.
Reporting: This is the accurate, punctual recovery and dissemination
of cleared area information in the form of a suspension or completion report.
3.
METHODS OF SEARCH & MINIMUM GUIDELINES
3.1
Selection of which method to use is dependent upon clearance instructions,
terrain, vegetation etc. A combination of different search methods will normally be
employed in order to achieve the desired result. Regardless of the method
employed all personnel entering within 100m of the hazardous area will wear
appropriate PPE.
3.2
Methods that may be used include:
a. Visual Search - is the most effective method of removing the immediate
threat from a hazardous area. It must be strictly controlled to ensure that the
complete area is systematically searched. The following applies:
(1) The vegetation, terrain and environment will dictate the number of
deminers making up a BAC team and the spacing between these
individuals.
(2) The TL must be able to see and hear all deminers at all times.
(3) Each deminer must be able to visually search the area he/she is
responsible for at all times and must be able to hear the TL at all times.
(4) BAC teams shall not search continuously for more than 60
minutes without at least a 10-minute break.
(5) A team will be allocated a ‘box’ to search and this will be further
segmented into ‘lanes’ of a width determined by the restrictions detailed
in paragraphs (1), (2) and (3) above.
(6) A minimum safety distance of 50 metres is maintained between
each BAC team but it may be necessary to increase this depending on
the fragmentation threat.
(7) Each lane will be searched until the whole box has been covered.
Once a box has been searched and all UXO found is marked, the team
can then move onto the next box.
(8) Searching shall always be carried out in complete silence, except
for instructions given by the TL and on the identification of a UXO by a
deminer.
(9) Any deminer who identifies an item of UXO is to immediately alert
the remainder of the team and the TL. Under no circumstances shall
the UXO be moved or disturbed at this stage.
(10) After an evaluation by the TL the UXO is to be appropriately
marked.
(11) In those areas where sub-munition clearance is being conducted,
the location of cluster bomb strike marks should be recorded to assist in
the identification and future evaluation of the strike area footprint and
boundary.
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(12) All items of UXO that have been identified are to be rendered safe
either by disposal by detonation/burning or if safe to do so, recovered to
a central storage area for demolition at a later date. All sub-munitions
are to be destroyed in situ.
b. Instrument Aided Visual Search – used to assist visual search
procedures when the density, covering and/or spread of vegetation hinders
progress, effectiveness, efficiency and safety. Numbers of deminers,
allocation of tasks, adequate supervision and overall conduct of this method
of search must take into consideration the use of detectors whilst applying
the details of paragraph 3.1a (1) to (12) as closely as possible.
c. Sub-surface Search – may be employed initially or following a visual
search of the contaminated area. Dependant upon methodology and
equipment used deminers may work singularly, in pairs and even in threes1
but this should be the maximum. Regardless of this the following applies:
(1) The weather, terrain, environment, instruments and equipments
being used and fragmentation threat shall dictate the composition of
deminers and the spacing between each.
(2) The TL shall allocate each deminer a box. He must be able to see
and hear all deminers at all times.
(3) Each deminer must be able to visually and instrumentally search
the area they are responsible for at all times and must be able to hear
the TL at all times.
(4) A deminer shall not search continuously for more than 60 minutes
without at least a 10-minute break.
(5) A deminer will be allocated a ‘box’ to search and this will be
further segmented into ‘lanes’ of no more than 2m width taking into
account the restrictions detailed in paragraphs (1), (2) and (3) above.
(6) A minimum safety distance of 25 metres is to be maintained
between each deminer but it may be necessary to increase this
depending on the fragmentation threat.
(7) Each lane will be searched until the whole box has been covered.
Once a box has been searched and all UXO found is marked, the
deminer can be moved to the next box.
(8) Searching shall always be carried out in complete silence, except
for instructions given by the TL and on the identification of a UXO by a
deminer.
(9) Levels of clearance will be identified during the tasking and will be
dependant on the overall requirement, future use of the land and
perceived threat. At all times any signal from the instrument that may
reasonably be expected to be an item of UXO is to be investigated.
(10) On location of a sub-surface signal, normal demining probe and
excavation drills should be employed. Every effort must be made not to
jolt, vibrate, strike or otherwise disturb the item giving the signal. The
extent of excavations should be such that it allows the item to be
positively identified.
1
Whichever entity is used reference to a single entity in this chapter is made by the term ‘deminer’
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(11) Any deminer who excavates and identifies an item suspected of
being UXO is to immediately alert the TL.
(12) After an evaluation by the TL any item of UXO is to be
appropriately marked.
(13) In all cases UXO and sub-munitions to a minimum depth of 20cm
are to be located and removed/disposed of.
(14) In those areas where sub-munition are expected the location of
cluster bomb strike marks should be recorded to assist in the
identification and future evaluation of the strike area footprint and
boundary (see Annex B).
(15) All items of UXO that have been identified are to be rendered safe
either by disposal by detonation/burning or if safe to do so, recovered to
a central storage area for demolition at a later date. All sub-munitions
are to be destroyed in situ.
4.
DISPOSAL OF UXO
4.1
All items of metallic scrap that have been certified as Free From Explosive
(FFE) are to be stockpiled on site and arrangements made for its removal to a final
place of disposal.
4.2
Any UXO should be disposed of by detonation/burning either in situ (if
unsafe to move) or at a CDS (if safe to move) as soon as possible. In
circumstances, where disposal cannot take place that day, the item is to be
effectively marked, protected and the local inhabitants informed.
4.3
Items of UXO that are considered safe to move may be transported to a predesignated storage area for future bulk disposal. Excessively large quantities must
not be allowed to accumulate.
5.
REPORTING
5.1
Upon completion of a BAC task a Completion Report is to be completed and
submitted to the UNRMAO. This should include the details of all demolitions
conducted, explosive and accessories usage. These details shall also be detailed
on the Weekly Summary Report submitted to UNRMAO.
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