Old skeet range excavated to remove potential pollutants Published Feb. 21, 2013 By Susan Griggs 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The vestiges of former skeet ranges north of the Triangle track are being removed as part of Keesler's Military Munitions Response Program. Skeet shooting was a popular recreational activity at Keesler from the mid 1940s until the early 1950s. In this sport, participants use shotguns to try to break disks automatically flung into the air from two fixed stations at high speeds from a variety of angles. The former range area has been redeveloped on at least two occasions since that time. At the site, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons can be found in remnants of the clay targets as well as spent lead pellets. According to the Centers for Disease Control, PAHs are among the most widespread organic pollutants and include more than 100 different chemicals formed during the incomplete burning of fossil fuels, coal, wood, diesel, fat and tobacco. Tasha Golson, 81st Infrastructure Division asset management chief, said a project to excavate and dispose of PAH-impacted soil in the area is scheduled to begin in March and should take 30 days. The work is part of the Air Force's Military Munitions Response Program. "Keesler opted to implement this interim measure as part of an environmental investigation to abate imminent threats to human health and the environment," Golson said. The remediation plan was prepared in accordance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Resource Conservation and Recovery Act corrective action guidance published in October 1988. About 4,100 cubic yards of soil will be excavated from the surface to a depth of 54 inches by a three-person team. Samples will be collected to verify that impacted soils have been removed before the area is backfilled and is either seeded or replaced with sod. "The 81st Training Wing is committed to protecting the natural environment while providing a safe and healthy work environment that supports the mission of every unit assigned to Keesler," the base's Environmental Management System guidance states. "Keesler takes its role as an environmental steward on the Mississippi Gulf Coast very seriously and is constantly striving to reduce environmental impacts and improve our programs," Golson added. The northern portion of the Triangle track will be closed during removal activities. Heavy truck traffic is expected near the track. A safety fence will be erected and yellow caution tape will mark the impacted area. Excavated soil piles will be covered with plastic until they're removed. For more information, call 228-376-8420.