UXO Site selected: Gerstle River Expansion Area & Test Site (GREATS), AK |
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General Area: 30 miles East of Delta Junction, AK Site Type/Program: FUDS Location: The project site is the Gerstle River Expansion Area and Test Site (GREATS), Alaska. The GREATS is located approximately 100 miles southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska and approximately 20 miles east of the nearest town (Delta Junction) in the eastern part of the state. The GREATS extends from the eastern boundary of Fort Greely along Granite Creek to the Gerstle River, and consists of two areas: the Gerstle River Test Site (GRTS) and the Gerstle River Expansion Area (GREA). Brief History: The GREATS was used by Dugway Proving Ground for chemical (G and V series) and high explosive testing from 1952 to 1962. Surveillance testing of chemical munitions was conducted in the area from 1962 to 1967 by the Arctic Test Center. No munitions, except flame, have been tested in the area since 1967. The GREA, consisting of approximately 80,000 acres adjacent to the northern, western and southern boundaries of the GRTS, was obtained through leases with the State of Alaska and the Department of Interior in 1964. The land was returned to the State and the Bureau of Land Management in the early 1970's. The GREA is currently owned by the State of Alaska and designated the Delta Junction Bison Range. It is jointly managed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the Natural Resources. |
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Range / Site Description: Associated Munitions: Activities Completed: Phase 1 was non-intrusive work which had two objectives. The first objective was to determine the presence or absence of an OE safety hazard. This objective was performed because all previous investigations on the GRTS recommended OE clearance operations before land was transferred from Army control. The second objective was to perform surface investigations to locate any OE. This task included the clearing of underbrush and vegetation up to 3 inches in diameter as necessary to allow for visual inspection of the areas. This was followed with geophysical investigation to locate ordnance, burial trenches, pits, landfills, drums etc.. Location surveys and mapping were provided at each site being investigated. Issues: The remoteness of this site makes access difficult and the logistics support requirements are immense. The state of Alaska has not formally agreed to intrusive operations. Other Information: Unknown |
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