Meeting to discuss the removal of unexploded munitions from World War II live-fire training
Restoration Advisory Board meeting will discuss the current removal and clean up of unexploded munition from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
The public is invited to learn more about the environmental restoration of the Waikōloa Maneuver Area during the Restoration Advisory Board meeting on Wednesday.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Honolulu District is hosting a meeting about the current removal of unexploded munitions that were a byproduct of the live-fire training of 50,000 troops during World War II.
From 1943 to 1945, the Department of Defense used land in South Kohala to conduct the live-fire training to ensure military readiness before many of those trained went on to the battles in the Pacific Theatre, which include Saipan, Iwo Jima, and Midway Atoll.
Unexploded munitions are the byproduct of live-fire training, and following the war, two surface cleanup activities were completed in 1946 after the military’s departure and again in 1954.
Today, the Department of Defense is responsible for the environmental restoration, or cleanup, of properties that were formerly owned by, leased to, or otherwise possessed by the United States and under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Defense prior to October 1986. Such properties are known as formerly used defense sites (FUDS).
The U.S. Army is the Department of Defense’s lead agent for the FUDS Program; however, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers executes the program.
As part of the FUDS Program, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began investigating Waikōloa Maneuver Area in 1993 and has conducted field investigations that include surface and subsurface removal of munitions and debris within areas that posed a risk to the public.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been cleaning up or removing munitions of explosive concern and related debris from the surface and subsurface investigations as part of a time-critical removal action or non-time-critical removal action.
Between 2002 and 2016, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conducted 26 non-time-critical removal actions throughout the Waikōloa Maneuver Area, reducing the risk of the public’s exposure to munitions of explosive concern or related debris.
The removal process involves metal detection using handheld or digital mapping instruments, excavation of contacts, and disposal. To date, the removal and disposal of more than 2,700 munitions and 120 tons of debris have been performed.
The public can stay informed of the ongoing investigation and cleanup through the Restoration Advisory Board meetings. Questions can be addressed during the community meetings in person or via the web.
The upcoming meeting is set for 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Mana Christian ʻOhana Punawaiola Room, 67-1182 Lindsey Road, in Waimea.
The meeting is being held over Microsoft Teams, but no sign-in is required. (Meeting ID: 993 174 707 793 / Passcode: Z25oq6KH)
