The Kingman Ground-to-Ground Gunnery Range Formerly Used Defense Site, or FUDS, is located north of the city of Kingman in Mohave County, Arizona. The Corps of Engineers is investigating and monitoring the former range through the FUDS Program for hazards and environmental contamination that may remain from previous military activities. This page provides information on Munitions Response Site 03 (MRS03) – 15 Skeet Ranges (a discrete location that may require a munitions response), which is part of the former Kingman Ground-to-Ground Gunnery Range Small Arms Ranges project.
The MRS03 – 15 Skeet Ranges encompasses 75 acres in the southeast section of the former Kingman Ground-to-Ground Gunnery Range and today is mostly residential, with more than 284 individual parcels. The MRS03 – 15 Skeet Ranges were constructed in a continuous and overlapping pattern. Each range consisted of one or more shooting fields that were laid out in semi-circle with a 63-foot radius. At the skeet ranges, shooters used shotguns to fire at clay targets, called “pigeons.” The clay pigeons were fired from one high and one low trap house constructed of wood, concrete or brick.
During the 2010 Site Inspection of the Small Arms Ranges project, the Corps of Engineers identified fragments of small arms and clay pigeon debris in MRS03 – 15 Skeet Ranges. World War II-era clay pigeons were constructed with coal tar pitch, which contains chemicals known as Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons – or PAHs. Seven soil samples were collected from areas with the highest likelihood for the presence of munitions and explosives of concern or munitions constituent-related hazards. Results from analyses of the soil samples indicated elevated levels of PAHs at MRS03 – 15 Skeet Ranges. The Corps of Engineers recommended further evaluation to determine if an expedited removal action was warranted.
Upon further review, the Corps of Engineers determined that 59 of the 284 parcels within the MRS03 – 15 Skeet Ranges area required the removal of clay pigeon debris and soil with elevated levels of PAHs. The Corps of Engineers performed a two-part Time Critical Removal Action on the 59 parcels. Part 1 involved remediation at 10 parcels, which was conducted in April and May 2013. Part 2 involved remediation at 45 parcels with 4 refusals, which was conducted between September 2013 and July 2014.
The Corps of Engineers continues to investigate the Kingman Ground-to-Ground Gunnery Range Small Arms Ranges project, including MRS03 – 15 Skeet Ranges, to determine if additional clearance activities are required. The Corps of Engineers is currently conducting a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study at MRS03 – 15 Skeet Ranges to evaluate possible environmental contamination in the areas that were not remediated during the Time Critical Removal Action.