Re: Reply to signs and fences query

[Aimee Houghton <aimeeh@cpeo.org>]

I was teaching at Honokaa High School on the Big Island of Hawaii in the

early 70s. I can attest to the attractiveness of the UXO nuisance. We
lost
one student who was attempting to dismantle a rocket in his room.

Merv

-----Original Message-----
From: Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>
To: Recipients of list cpro.military <cpeo@cpeo.org>
Date: March 02, 1998 4:26 PM
Subject: Reply to signs and fences query

>I RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING FROM AN INDUSTRY EXPOSIVES ORDNANCE EXPERT:
>
>I would like to offer the following regarding the use of signs and
>fences to safe guard against UXO hazards.
>
>First of all they don't work! Human nature, the way it is, is only
>attracted to such devices, not deterred as one might think.
>
>While I am unaware of any studies conducted on this issue I can only
>pass along my observations based on over twenty-five years experence
>working directly in the UXO/EOD field. I have seen repetitively
>incidents where death and injury have occurred where individuals
>disregarded posted signs and fences.
>
>Most of those incidents can be traced thru federal and state lawsuits.
>In every incident that I am aware of, DOD has lost.
>
>I have heard this somewhere, and I don't know where it was. But, what I

>heard was that the Army would rather pay for fences and signs and
gamble
>that no one gets hurt, rather that take the time and effort to conduct
>range clearance operations. Since that time in my dealing with the
>Treaty Implmentation and Planing Agency tasked with returning UXO
>contaminated lands to Panama I have found this rationale to be both
true
>and in the mindset of DOD personnel. At one meeting I was told
directly
>that quote, "people in third world countries die every day". This was
>in response to my concerns that faulty or improper information was
>contained in a report that I worked on.
>
>I do remember a couple of incidents that may provide you with some
>needed references. There was in 1975/76 time period at Ft. Carson, CO
>an accident involving two teenagers. Both were killed as a result of
>entering a 40mm grenade range through, if I remember right, three
>separate fences. A big court case! There were a couple of other
>incidents around that same time period, all of which resulted in either

>court cases or out of court settlements. A second area would be in
>Southern California. I do remember two separate incidents, both
>involving the "fenced and marked" bombing range outside of El Centro,
>Naval Flight Facility.
>--
>
>
>Lenny Siegel
>Director, SFSU CAREER/PRO (and Pacific Studies Center)
>c/o PSC, 222B View St., Mountain View, CA 94041
>Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
>Fax: 650/968-1126
>lsiegel@cpeo.org
>
>