A. P. Hill aims to cut noise from ordnance

Army releases ordnance noise-study results

Date published: 3/12/2010

By RUSTY DENNEN

The most powerful blasts from a planned explosive ordnance disposal school at Fort A.P. Hill would not be enough to damage buildings, though some could prompt complaints.

And steps have been taken to mitigate the noise from smaller detonations, the Army says in a noise-study test released this week.

Explosives trainers from the Army's Redstone Arsenal near Huntsville, Ala., set off 1,386 blasts Feb. 4-12. The tests were monitored by the Army Public Health Command.

Lt. Col. John W. Haefner, Fort A.P. Hill's commander, summarized the 109-page test report for the Caroline Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. The board adopted a resolution opposing the EOD school, but agreed not to make it final until March 19.

That would allow for a meeting of the parties involved and give the Army time to craft a memorandum of understanding with the community.

"We have heard the community's concerns and have implemented numerous mitigations in response to those concerns," Haefner said in a news release.

As a result of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission, the Army chose the Caroline post to relocate the EOD school. Fort Lee and Fort Pickett were initially considered, but Fort A.P. Hill was deemed to be the most suitable field-training site.

An environmental impact statement prepared in 2006-07 designated 1,034 acres for the EOD school, with a 25-pound charge limit. It found that there would be "no significant impact" on the surrounding community.

An environmental assessment in 2007-08 proposed expanding the site to cover 2,059 acres, allowing night training and raising the charge limit to 50 pounds. Fort A.P. Hill staffers met with Portobago Bay residents in October 2008 to address concerns over that plan.

Port Royal residents got involved late last year when plans called for moving demolition areas farther from Portobago Bay, a subdivision along U.S. 17, and closer to the town.

At a packed public meeting on Jan. 7, many town residents said they were worried that blasts from EOD school training could damage historic buildings and increase noise from the base.

The Army then agreed to tests to approximate the noise and vibration outside the gate.

In the meantime, it has made concessions--the "mitigation" efforts that Haefner mentioned.

Fort A.P. Hill will host a meeting April 8 to further explain the study results and respond to concerns raised at a January public hearing. The session starts at 6 p.m. at the Army Reserve Center off U.S. 17.

Date published: 3/12/2010

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