June 7, 2000

The military is stepping up security at its vast bombing range in Utah's west desert.

It's not worried about foreign enemies getting in. It's worried about blundering Americans who could get themselves killed.

Environment Specialist John Hollenhorst has the story from the Utah Test & Training Range in Tooele County.

No one is supposed to cross a long fenceline in the middle of nowhere unless they're on official business. Such as dropping bombs.

LT. COL. BOB VOZZOLA/HILL AIR FORCE BASE: "THE RANGE IS INHERENTLY A DANGEROUS PLACE."

But B-1 bombers aren't the only ones going in these days. More and more motorbikes and ATV's are drifiting in from the Knolls Off-road Recreation Area.

Lured by inviting sand dunes in the distance, recreationists frequently cut the fence and drive right on in. Mending fences is now part of the routine for test-range workers.

BOE HADLEY/UTAH TEST & TRAINING RANGE: "PRETTY MUCH EVERYTIME WE'RE OUT HERE, WE FIND A BREAK IN THE FENCE."

JOHN HOLLENHORST REPORTING: "THE PENALTY FOR BREAKING THE RULES CAN BE SEVERE. A $5,000 FINE, SIX MONTHS IN JAIL. BUT THAT'S A LOT BETTER THAN ONE OF THE ALTERNATIVES: BEING BLOWN UP!"

BOE HADLEY/UTAH TEST & TRAINING RANGE: "YOU KNOW THERE ARE INERT AND LIVE ORDINANCE OUT THERE CAPABLE OF KILLING PEOPLE."

Explosive devices are scatttered through the desert. Some look as harmless as a rock, but are actually parts of a cluster bomb.

LT. COL. BOB VOZZOLA/HILL AIR FORCE BASE: "IF THEY'RE BURIED IN THE GROUND, OR PEOPLE COME ACROSS AND TOUCH OR EVEN GET CLOSE TO THEM, THEY MIGHT GO OFF."

With recreational pressure increasing just outside the fence, the military has decided it's time to get serious about enforcement.

LT. COL. BOB VOZZOLA/HILL AIR FORCE BASE: "INCREASING PATROLS IN THE AREA. WE'R PUTTING UP SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT FOR AREAS THAT WE'RE SEEING HIGH TRAFFIC IN THERE. AND IN FACT, WERE USING SOME MOTION DETECTORS."

And if you don't like being snooped on, just imagine a bomber breathing down your neck.

Air Force officials can't recall any serious injuries on the range here in Utah. But they say there have been injuires and deaths at other military bases around the country.