UXO Site selected: Laguna Maneuver Area, AZ

General Area: Aguila and others, AZ

Site Type/Program: FUDS

Location: The total acreage for these eight projects is 1,472,349 acres, part of the former Laguna Maneuver Area, also known as Maneuver Area B, which totaled approximately 4,359,781 acres in Arizona located 30 miles northeast of Yuma, Arizona. Total eligible acres for site number J09AZ043900, Laguna Maneuver Area, including three additional projects not included in this Fact Sheet, is 2,560,637 acres. Acreage for each of the eight projects is as follows: (1) P.N. J09AZ043901 consists of 17,140 acres of barren desert. (2) P.N. J09AZ043902 consists of 960,510 acres of barren desert land and small cities. (3) P.N. J09AZ043903 consists of 99,648 acres of barren desert land, mining properties, and roadways. (4) P.N. J09AZ043904 consists of 214,501 acres of barren desert land. (5) P.N. J09AZ043908 consists of 82,240 acres of vacant desert, a wildlife refuge, and a water project. (6) P.N. J09AZ043909 consists of 50,100 acres used for agriculture, vacant desert, and a wildlife refuge. (7) P.N. J09AZ043910 consists of 43,560 acres of vacant desert and land used as a utility corridor. (8) P.N. J09AZ043911 consists of 4,650 acres of vacant desert and land used for agriculture and recreational property. The first four projects includes ownership by the Department of the Interior, the Federal Government, the State of Arizona and private individuals in La Paz, Maricopa, and Yavapai Counties. The second four projects includes ownership of land by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the State of Arizona, National Wildlife Refuges, private individuals, and Bureau of Reclamation Lands in Yuma and La Paz Counties.

Brief History: The total acreage of 1,472,349 acres for these eight projects was obtained by the War Department for use as a maneuver area in 1942. It was part of the former Laguna Maneuver Area, site number J09AZ043900, also known as Maneuver Area B, which totaled 4,359,781 acres in Arizona. The Department of the Interior transferred 4,333,971 acres on 29 June 1942 by use permit. On 18 July 1942, 25,810 acres owned by the Santa Fe Pacific Railroad Company were made available by letter of permit. The Laguna Maneuver Area was part of the Desert Training Center, also known as the California-Arizona Maneuver Area, or CAMA, with a total acreage in excess of 12 million acres situated in Arizona, California, and Nevada. The combined maneuver areas were instituted under the Army Ground Forces for the special purpose of training infantry and mechanized units to live and fight in the desert; to test and develop suitable equipment; and to develop doctrine, techniques, and training methods for desert warfare. The site was used for training maneuvers from April 1942 through April 1944. Within Arizona, there were four camps associated with the site, which are not part of this site. There were no improvements made to the site. Although the Army had sole control of the site during the period of occupancy, parts of the site were occupied by civilian populations. The permit with the railroad was terminated on 30 October 1944. On 8 February 1945, the Army relinquished the use permit to the Department of the Interior which was followed by transfer of the site on 25 July 1945. At a later date, 1,085,000 acres were reacquired by the Department of Defense for use as the Yuma Proving Grounds; this area remains under DOD control. The Kofa National Wildlife Refuge constitutes 660,000 acres and has been addressed as site number J09AZ004700. In 1947, 368,640 acres were used for Task Force Furnace, site number J09AZ064100, of which 314,496 acres became part of Yuma Proving Grounds and the remaining 54,144 acres reverted back to the Department of the Interior. Remaining acreage is included in three additional projects, J09AZ043905, J09AZ043906, and J09AZ043907, which are the subject of one ASR. Total eligible acres for site number J09AZ043900, Laguna Maneuver Area, including the three additional projects not included in this Fact Sheet, is 2,560,637 acres. which totaled 4,359,781 acres in Arizona. The Department of the Interior transferred 4,333,971 acres on 29 June 1942 by use permit. On 18 July 1942, 25,810 acres owned by the Santa Fe Pacific Railroad Company were made available by letter of permit. The Laguna Maneuver Area was part of the Desert Training Center, also known as the California-Arizona Maneuver Area, or CAMA, with a total acreage in excess of 12 million acres situated in Arizona, California, and Nevada. The combined maneuver areas were instituted under the Army Ground Forces for the special purpose of training infantry and mechanized units to live and fight in the desert; to test and develop suitable equipment; and to develop doctrine, techniques, and training methods for desert warfare. The site was used for training maneuvers from April 1942 through April 1944. Within Arizona, there were four camps associated with the site, which are not part of this site. There were no improvements made to the site. Although the Army had sole control of the site during the period of occupancy, parts of the site were occupied by civilian populations.

Range / Site Description:

Associated Munitions:

Activities Completed: The Archives Search Report (ASR) for Laguna Maneuver Area was completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, in September 1998.

Issues: The Huntsville Center Technical Advisory Group met and discussed this ASR on 12 January 1999 and concurs with USAESCH Safety Comments and the two ASRs that the appropriate strategy is EE/CA for Areas A and B, Project # J09AZ043903, and Areas B and D, Project J09AZ043911. NOFA is determined for all other areas.

Other Information: EE/CA

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