Mojave Gunnery Range “C” is in Kern County, California, and most of the property lies within the California City limits. The Army Corps of Engineers is monitoring the former training area through the Formerly Used Defense Sites, or FUDS, Program for munitions and explosive hazards that may remain from previous military activity. This page provides information on the Bombing Target project, which is also known as Munitions Response Site 01, or MRS 01.
MRS 01 consists of a circular target and buffer zone that encompass 828 acres in the north-central portion of the former Mojave Gunnery Range “C” training area. The U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps used the former target, which simulated a convoy of tanks and other vehicles, for bombing and other air-to-ground training from 1944 to 1951.
The Army Corps of Engineers began investigating the former Mojave Gunnery Range “C” FUDS, including MRS 01, in 1999. During site visits, vehicle debris was identified indicating the project’s former use as a convoy target. Munitions and explosives of concern and munitions debris from small arms ammunition, practice projectiles, practice rockets, practice bombs and high explosive bombs were also identified at the bombing target.
In June 2018, the Army Corps of Engineers finalized the MRS 01 Decision Document, which records the selected remedial alternative as Digital Geophysical Mapping and Surface / Subsurface Removal of Department of Defense Military Munitions with Institutional Controls to Protect Current and Future Site Users.
An Administrative Record containing project documents and reports for Mojave Gunnery Range “C” is available at the Kern County Library, California City Branch, 9507 California City Blvd., and at the Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District office.