Eglin to search for vintage munitions in Santa Rosa County

  • Published
  • By Jerron Barnett
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Eglin Environmental Restoration officials and contractors are preparing to conduct visual surface surveys on private property in Santa Rosa County under the Air Force's Military Munitions Response Program.

The mission of the AF MMRP is to take appropriate actions to ensure former weapon test ranges and military training sites are safe to reuse and are clear of Munitions and Explosives of Concern.

Earlier this month, Eglin environmental restoration officials sent out information packets and Right of Entry request forms to 13 different private property owners in an area that was formerly part of now defunct Range 30, where aerial gunnery testing was conducted in the 1940s-50s. This area is located along the southwest edge of Eglin's boundary and the East Bay River.

Eglin is requesting property access for contractors who will conduct the surveys using metal detectors. No digging or ground disturbance should occur during these surveys.

Once Right of Entry is granted, contractors will look for .50 caliber, 20 and 30 millimeter rounds that may have fell to the Earth from aircraft that were used for gunnery testing during that time period.

"The extensive development in the majority of that area and the fact there hasn't been any documented cases of overshoot there suggests we shouldn't find anything," said Robin Bjorklund, Eglin restoration project manager who oversees MMRP actions on Eglin. "But, just to be sure, we want to take a closer look, especially in the undeveloped areas."

Eglin Environmental Restoration officials highly recommend that if residents find any military munitions related debris or unexploded ordnance on their property that they leave it in place and immediately call local law enforcement.

The Department of Defense launched the MMRP in 2004. Eglin has 24 sites that are being managed under the AF MMRP, most of which are located within its 724-square mile land area. Eglin has many active weapon test ranges, but they are not being evaluated under the MMRP because they are in use.

Once this phase of operations is finished, which Eglin officials estimate may take several years to complete, a final MMRP report will be made available to the public.