Prior to the turn over of the Canal and U.S. military bases in Panama to the Panamanian Government in 1999, the U.S. military controlled more than 75,000 acres of land. The land included over 7,000 acres of range area including two Army ranges (Empire and Pina), and an Air force bombing range known as Balboa West. This entry in the UXOInfo.com UXO site inventory database covers the Empire Range Complex.

The Empire Range is a former U.S. Army training range located in Panama. The range was established after 1949 when canal defense fortifications were dismantled after World War II and property transfers occurred. The Empire Range was used by the U.S. military up until the mid 1990s when training was stopped to prepare for the transfer of the property to the Government of Panama under the Panama Canal Treaty.

The use of the range changed throughout the forty plus years it was in use but in general, the range remained within the same general area. The range is setup like a traditional U.S. Army training complex with a central impact area and firing points and fixed ranges surrounding. Over the years, at least 19 firing points were established surrounding the impact area to support training of mortars, projectiles, and other munitions into the impact area. At least 10 fixed ranges were also established as part of the Empire Range Complex. These ranges included small arms ranges, rocket ranges, projectile ranges and multi-purpose training ranges. Some of the fixed ranges fired into or towards the impact area while other were adjacent to the impact area. The U.S. military also had a demolition range, EOD range, and a grenade range as part of the Empire Range Complex.

The fixed ranges and firing points (with firing fans) were located at various locations surrounding or adjacent to the 600-hectare main impact area located in the southeast portion of the Empire Range Complex. The northeastern boundary of the main impact area is within 1.5 km of the Panama Canal. The main impact area is a hilly area characterized by an irregularly shaped ridge line along its southwest boundary and a flatter area to the east toward the canal. A conically shaped hill known as Cerro Sierpe is a prominent feature near the northeast boundary of the main impact area. Tributaries of the Quebrada Conga and Rio Sierpe rivers flow from hills in the main impact area, and these two rivers converge near an extensive wetlands area in the northeast portion of the main impact area.