Environmental Restoration at MCAGCC 29 Palms
PUBLIC NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY
MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS
TWENTYNINE PALMS, CALIFORNIA
PROPOSED PLAN FOR MUNITIONS RESPONSE
PROGRAM SITE UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE 01
The United States Department of the Navy (Navy) announces the public availability of the Proposed Plan for addressing munitions that may present an explosive hazard at Munitions Response Program Site Unexploded Ordnance 01 (UXO 01) at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC) Twentynine Palms, in Twentynine Palms, California.
UXO 01 is located northwest of the Mainside Area and Central Magazine Area and northeast of Rainbow Canyon Road. UXO 01 consists of the “other than operational” portions of two former ranges, Range 106 and Range 107. The term “other than operational” describes areas that were formerly used for range-related purposes, but because of their current use or encroachment by other uses, are no longer considered operational ranges.
Site investigations at UXO 01 began in 2003 to evaluate and characterize the residual munitions debris (MD), munitions and explosives of concern (MEC), and munitions constituent (MC) chemicals within UXO 01 from former activities at Ranges 106 and 107.
In 2020 and 2021, a time-critical removal action (TCRA) was conducted to remove MEC from the site that posed a potential explosive hazard to installation personnel and contractors at the site under current and future land use conditions. The TCRA objective was met at UXO 01, except at several areas in the northeastern portion of the site where steep and rocky terrain precluded safe MEC clearance. For the areas cleared of MEC, no further action is necessary or recommended for these areas.
Because it is not possible to completely clear the entire site of MEC because of the terrain, to protect human health, the Navy recommends engineering and administrative land use controls to limit access to the areas where MEC may still be present. These actions are considered the best alternative for protecting human health and the environment and are compliant with federal and state statutory requirements.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
The Proposed Plan documenting the Navy’s approach for addressing munitions that may present an explosive hazard at UXO 01 is available for review at the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southwest (NAVFAC SW) Administrative Record.
Administrative Record
NAVFAC SW Environmental Records Manager
Naval Base San Diego
2965 Mole Road, Building 3519
San Diego, California 92136
(619) 556-1280
The Navy will accept public comments during the 30-day comment period from March 17, 2023, through April 15, 2023. Written comments should be postmarked no later than April 15, 2023 and mailed to the NAVFAC SW Public Affairs Office, 750 Pacific Highway, San Diego, California 92132. Emailed comments should be submitted no later than April 15, 2023, to the NAVFAC SW Public Affairs Office at usn.san-diego-ca.navfacswsanca.mbx.navfac-sw-pao-mailbox@us.navy.mil.
PUBLIC MEETING TO BE HELD ON March 30, 2023, from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm
The meeting will provide an additional opportunity for the public to comment on the Proposed Plan. The meeting will be accessible to all interested parties at the following location:
Public Meeting Location
Knott Sky City Park
6701-6899 El Sol Avenue, Twentynine Palms, California 92277
NAVFAC and MCAGCC’s Environmental Affairs would like to thank all the community members who took part in the Community Involvement Plan Survey in May 2022. NAVFAC and Environmental Affairs expect to complete the Environmental Restoration Program's Community Involvement Plan before the end of FY2023. Check back soon to view or download the PDF!
For more information about Environmental Restoration, please contact MCAGCC's Environmental Restoration Program Manager at 760.830.7722.