You'd better watch your step in Utah's West Desert.
A study by Hill Air Force Base has documented hundreds of locations where old munitions are lying around in areas open to the public.
Environment Specialist John Hollenhorst shows what government agencies are doing about it.
Once upon a time there was a vast wasteland.
At least that's how most people thought about the West Desert.
To the military, this barren place was the perfect pincushion for pinpoint bombing. And sloppy bombing too.
Many bombs missed their targets. Others fell on land that once was military property but is now public.
A new inventory shows lots of old bombs and shells and other military junk at more than 400 locations outside the boundaries on public land, including even Carrigan Island in the Great Salt Lake.
Dave Mills/Hill A.F.B. Project Manager: "I THINK IT'S LIKELY THAT THERE IS SOME UNEXPLODED MATERIAL OUT THERE SOMEWHERE."
Dave Mills thinks the risk of a civilian blowing himself up is very small.
But Glenn Carpenter at the Bureau of Land Management has been increasingly concerned that a hiker or off-road vehicle rider will encounter an old munition, especially near the military boundaries.
Glenn Carpenter/US Bureau of Land Management: "I'D BE VERY CAREFUL WHERE I DROVE, WHERE I WALKED, ETCETERA. WATCH WHERE YOU PUT YOUR FEET, JUST LIKE YOU DO IF THERE ARE SNAKES OUT."
The Air Force and the BLM are sending letters to the Army Corps of Engineers, which has legal responsibility.
The Air Force suggests prompt action on the most hazardous locations.
Dave Mills: "IT'S NOT NECESSARILY URGENT. BUT IT DESERVES ATTENTION."
John Hollenhorst, Eyewitness News: "ONE IDEA THAT MAY GET SOME DISCUSSION IS LIMITING PUBLIC ACCESS TO SOME OF THE AREAS. FOR NOW THOUGH, THE ADVICE FROM HILL AIR FORCE BASE-- 'IF IT LOOKS SUSPICIOUS, DON'T PICK IT UP'."
Carpenter says a comprehensive
cleanup would be the best approach.
Glen Carpenter: "YES, I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE."
The problems have been accumulating for more than a half century. And cleaning it all up may cost many tens of millions of dollars.
No one seems to be expecting a total cleanup, but they're at least trying to make sure the problem is on the government's radar screen.
John Hollenhorst, Eyewitnesss News, Hill Air Force Base.
We were unable to reach anyone for comment at the Army Corps of Engineers. They've had legal responsibility for nearly two decades.
April 16, 2002
