Delta Range Complex areas for cleanup | Munition Safety
Background
Delta Range Munitions Response Area is a 14,513-acre site located in Delta County, Colorado. The Delta Range is federally owned and under the jurisdiction of the BLM. The range was used by the Colorado Army National Guard between 1957 and 1991. The U.S. Army Reserve used the range between 1976 and 1983. Delta Range Munition Response Area is located on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management Uncompahgre Basin Resource Area. The land is not fenced and has unrestricted access, although signs along access roads warn visitors of the danger of potential unexploded ordnance. The lands are currently used for recreation, oil and gas exploration, mineral extraction, and livestock grazing. The land is undeveloped, with dirt roads providing access to the utility right of way and oil and gas production sites to the north.
Cleanup at the site will be conducted by the Army National Guard under its Non-Department of Defense Owned Non-Operational Defense Site program, a nationwide program designed to identify former training areas where the Guard used munitions in training exercises. We and the Army National Guard have developed a plan for cleanup and providing public education to protect users. This work is ongoing.
Delta Range Complex areas for cleanup
- The Delta Range 3.5-Inch Practice Rocket Range Munitions Response Site encompasses 141 acres located in the western part of Delta Range Munitions Response Area used for 3.5-inch practice rocket training. The selected remedy for this response site consists of a technology-aided (using magnetometers) surface removal of Department of Defense military munitions and implementation of institutional controls with Five-Year Reviews.
- Delta Range Army Reserve Camp Mortar Area Munitions Response Site is 67 acres within the 14,513-acre Delta Range Munitions Response Area, which was used by the United States Army Reserve for training. The United States Army Reserve camp was located in the drainage basin west of Wells Gulch Road. The selected remedy for this response site consists of 100 percent digital geophysical mapping and surface and subsurface removal to full depth (expected to be 18 inches), and implementation of institutional controls with Five-Year Reviews.
- Delta Range Practice Grenade Areas Munitions Response Site encompasses 48.85 acres within the 14,513-acre Delta Range Munitions Response Area. The selected remedy for this response site consists of 100 percent digital geophysical mapping and surface and subsurface removal to full depth (expected to be 18 inches) of Department of Defense military munitions, and implement institutional controls with Five-Year Reviews.
- Delta Range Southeast Debris Area Munitions Response Site encompasses 26.2 acres within the 14,513-acre Delta Range Munitions Response Area. The selected remedy for this response site consists of institutional controls with Five-Year Reviews.
- Delta Range Impact Areas Munitions Response Site encompasses 1,993 acres within the 14,513-acre Delta Range Munitions Response Area. The selected remedy for this response site consists of 100 percent digital geophysical mapping and surface and subsurface removal to full depth (expected to be 18 inches) with the aid of advanced classification technology, and institutional controls with Five-Year Reviews.
- Delta Range Remainder Munitions Response Site encompasses 12,237 acres within the 14,513-acre Delta Range Munitions Response Area. The selected remedy for this response site consists of the implementation of institutional controls.
Munitions Safety
Munitions may include live munitions fired during training that didn’t fire as designed or training and practice munitions, both of which remain hazardous. We work directly with the Army Corps of Engineers and the Army National Guard at different sites to determine what, if any, risks might be posed to the public and the appropriate mitigation measures.
- Training and practice munitions may also be hazardous.
- These munitions can contain a type of spotting charge that simulates explosive impact.
- The spotting charge can vary from a few grains of black powder to several pounds of high explosive.
- Never assume that "training" or "practice" means a munition item is safe to touch.
- Even the least sensitive items may explode if exposed to careless and improper handling.
- It’s important to remember that military munitions were designed to destroy military supplies and equipment, and to kill or maim people.
- Regardless of their age, munition items retain their hazardous and dangerous nature.
- Leave the handling of munitions to trained experts who can assess the item and make the area safe.
Know the three “R’s” of munitions safety
Recognize
- Recognizing when you may have encountered a munition is key to reducing the risk of injury or death.
- If you encounter or suspect you’ve encountered a munition, consider it extremely dangerous.
- Munitions are sometimes hard to see and identify. They may resemble:
- A pointed pipe.
- A soda can.
- A baseball.
- A muffler.
- Other metal objects.
- They may be:
- Visible on the surface.
- Buried.
- Exposed by erosion or fires.
- They may look new or old, be complete or in parts, be found alone or in groups.
- Any suspect items should be considered dangerous, regardless of size or apparent age.
Retreat
- If you encounter or suspect you’ve encountered a munition, don’t touch, move or disturb it.
- Immediately and carefully leave the area, following the same path on which you entered.
- If you can, mark the general area — not the munition — in some manner (e.g., with a hat, piece of cloth, or tying a piece of plastic to a bush or tree branch).
Report
- Call 911 immediately.
- Notify local law enforcement of what you saw and where you saw it.
- If you or someone you know may have collected munitions-related items as souvenirs, please notify law enforcement immediately so trained professionals can remove the items safely.