[CPEO-MEF] Navy approves Pinecastle Range renewal

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

On March 29, 2002, the Navy approved continued operation of its
Pinecastle Bombing Range in central Florida's Ocala National Forest.
Environmental organizations opposed the "Renewal," arguing that the
Range is an "un-fenced 5,760-acre area, with the eastern edge of the
range located about 2 miles west of State Road 19 and the Camp Ocala
Campgrounds, and one-half mile west of the Farles Lake Campground."

The Navy's Record of Decision may be found on page 17419 of the April
10, 2002 Federal Register. Go to
http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a020410c.html and scroll to
"Navy Department." It describes the findings of the Environmental Impact
Statement conducted in support of the project. Most relevant for the
current debate over the regulation of explosive constituents on ranges,
the Navy concluded:

"There are potential impacts to groundwater. Groundwater could be
contaminated by the release of constituents and by-products of
explosives used in live ordnance, spotting charges, and by the release
of pollutants from bombing targets such as motor vehicles. While tests
of groundwater have not revealed the presence of contaminants above
established maximum regulatory levels, and the small size of the range
relative to the aquifer recharge area decrease the likelihood of
contamination, the Navy, in conjunction with the USFS, will develop and
implement a groundwater monitoring plan."

-- 


Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org

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