Overview
The Kingman Ground-to-Ground Gunnery Range is a former military training area located in Mohave County, Arizona, north of the City of Kingman and west of the Kingman Airport along Historic Route 66.
During World War 2 (WW2), this area was used by the U.S. Army Air Forces for gunnery training. Environmental studies conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) found potentially harmful level of chemicals in the soil associated with the historic site use at the former 15 Skeet Ranges, also known as Munitions Response Site 01 (MRS01) and Munitions Response Site 05 (MRS05).
This Overview provides:
• Site background and history information
• A summary of what was found in the soil
• Information about cleanup work and next steps
• Where to find more information
Site History
During WW2, the U.S. Army Air Forces operated the Kingman Army Airfield and Flexible Gunnery School to train aerial gunners for B-17 bombers. Training occurred between 1942 and 1945, starting shortly after the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.
One part of the ground-based training involved skeet shooting, where recruits practiced hitting moving targets using 12-gauge shotguns.
• Fifteen skeet ranges were constructed in a semi-circular, overlapping layout covering about 75 acres
• Clay targets, also called skeet or clay pigeons, were launched from high and low trap houses
• When the targets broke, fragments fell onto the ground in the fall zone of the ranges
After the war, the property was no longer used by the military and was redeveloped for residential purposes. Today, MRS01 and MRS05 includes established neighborhoods with approximately 284 homes.
Environmental Conditions and Health Risk
Investigations conducted by USACE and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) identified fragments of WW2-era clay targets in surface and subsurface soil.
What are clay target (skeet) fragments?
WW2-era skeet was made with coal tar that contains chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
Why are PAHs a concern?
PAHs are chemicals found in coal, oil, and fuel products:
• Long-term contact can increase cancer risk
• PAHs can potentially be harmful if swallowed, breathed in as dust, or touched with bare skin
• In Kingman’s dry climate and alkaline (pH greater than 7) soil, skeet fragments can stay in the soil for many years
Are there other health risks?
No. Lead from shotgun pellets was studied and found to be below health concern levels.
There are no explosives or unexploded munitions at MRS01 and MRS05.
Cleanup Actions Completed
USACE has taken several steps to address soil conditions at MRS01 and MRS05, including:
• 2010: Soil testing found elevated PAH levels near the former skeet ranges
• 2013-2014: Contaminated soil with potentially harmful contamination levels was removed from 55 residential properties and replaced with clean soil
• 2014-2022: Additional testing was completed at 65 properties, and health risks were reviewed
Current Status and Next Steps
USACE continues cleanup planning for MRS01 and MRS05 under the federal environmental cleanup law known as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) in a two phase approach:
1. Ninety-seven parcels (84 residential) were found to have PAH levels in soil above protective health guidelines and will be addressed under Phase 1, which is currently in the Feasibility Study and Proposed Plan process. These parcels are Phase 1 of MRS01.
2. Additional properties that currently do not exceed protective health guidelines for soil, or have not been tested yet, will be sampled under Phase 2 to assess health risks related to the soil contamination and target fragments. These parcels are Phase 2 of MRS05.
•118 parcels without previous sampling data and drainage area (orange)
•52 Previously characterized parcels (tan/salmon)
•55 TCRA parcels (blue)
Important to know:
• No final cleanup decision has been made yet
• USACE will release a Proposed Plan that explains the preferred Phase 1 cleanup option
• The public will have a chance to review the plan and provide comments
• Cleanup work will begin after a final decision (Record of Decision) is approved
• Property owners and residents will be contacted via certified mail for Rights-of-Entry before any work takes place:
a) Right-of-Entry is required in Phase 1 to implement the remedy based on the record-of-decision
b) Right-of-Entry is required for Property owners in Phase 2 for sampling
Safety Information
Small pieces of clay target fragments may still be found on or near properties. Potential health risk comes from PAHs in soil.
What to Do If You Find Skeet Fragments
• Wear gloves
• Use a shovel to pick them up
• Do not crush them
• Do not eat them
• Wash your hands after handling
Disposal:
• Small amounts (about one dustpan or ~50 fragments) can be sealed in a bag and placed in household trash
• For larger amounts, contact USACE for guidance
Where to Get More Information
Project documents and historical information are available at:
Mohave County Library – Kingman Branch
3269 N. Burbank Street
Kingman, Arizona 86409
Additional information is available online by scanning the QR code below. Community members interested in technical assistance or future participation in a Restoration Advisory Board are encouraged to contact the project team.