Marine Corps To Conduct Human Receptor Study For Bombing Targets

Havelock, North Carolina  Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point operates two bombing targets in the Pamlico Sound /Neuse River area, Bomb Target 11 (BT-11) and BT-9. BT-11 (also known as Piney Island) is primary used for practice bombs and other air deployed munitions. BT-9 is an underwater target area that is used for both practice and high explosive airdropped munitions. The bomb target areas themselves are off-limits to the public and are marked as such with signs.

The Marine Corps is interested to see what activities go on within a 2-mile radius of the two active bomb targets. To do this, the Marine Corps has hired a contractor to send a team out at least four times a month at various times of the day to document human receptor activities through interviews. The interviews, which will be conducted on an anonymous basis, involve a series of short questions regarding how and how often the area is being used for. The MCAS Cherry Point public affairs office stated that the study is not connected to any one particular military project but will provide valuable data regarding the uses of the areas surrounding the bomb targets.