The Former Camp San Luis Obispo is located five miles northwest of city of San Luis Obispo, California. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is investigating and monitoring the former camp through the Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) Program for munitions and explosive hazards that may remain from previous military activity. This page provides information on the Multi-Use Range Complex project, which is part of the Former Camp San Luis Obispo.
The Multi-Use Range Complex project comprises numerous former ranges including rocket, rifle, squad defense and close combat. The area encompasses 2,626 acres in the northern and western portions of the Former Camp San Luis Obispo.
During the 1960s the Army had relinquished control of the Multi-Use Range Complex. Since that time, there have been numerous reports of munitions finds in the project area. In 1992, USACE performed a Time-Critical Removal Action on 95 acres that encompassed the Multi-Use Range Complex and portions of Grenade Courts 25 and 26 project areas. The Time-Critical Removal Action was performed to identify and remove munitions and reduce the threat posed by munitions and explosives of concern to people who use the area. However, no munitions and explosives of concern were observed in the Multi-Use Range Complex portion of the removal area, but were observed and removed from the Grenade Courts 25 and 26 portion.
Another Time-Critical Removal Action was performed in 2010 on 170 acres of the Multi-Use Range Complex. The 2007 Site Inspection report recommended the removal action based on finds during the inspection and recent reports of munitions being found within a former mortar range that is part of the Multi-Use Range Complex. During this action, munitions debris and munitions and explosives of concern were removed from the surface of the project area and disposed of.
In 2014 and 2015, USACE performed a Treatability Study on seven acres of the Multi-Use Range Complex to evaluate an advanced geophysical classification process as an effective and efficient option for potential remedial actions at Camp San Luis Obispo. The study area was surveyed with an advanced geophysical instrument that identified subsurface anomalies (metal objects) and provided information about each anomaly’s features (size and wall-thickness). The features were analyzed to determine if an anomaly was a munitions and explosives of concern item or not. USACE determined that the advanced geophysical instrument would be effective in identifying potential subsurface munitions and explosives of concern and would reduce the number of digs performed for non-munitions items.
After completing site investigations and evaluations, USACE divided the Multi-Use Range Complex into three sub-areas and recorded the selected remedial alternative for each sub-area in the 2020 Decision Document. Two areas will have surface/subsurface removal of military munitions followed by the implementation of a 3Rs of Explosives Safety educational awareness program to protect current and future site users. The third area will also receive the educational awareness program. After the remedial alternatives are implemented, USACE will conduct five-year reviews to assess if the remedial alternatives remain protective of human health and the environment.