thedrifter
02-16-07, 07:23 AM
Range trespassers to be cited
February 16,2007
CHRISSY VICK
Browns Island may offer sandy beaches and sparkling waters to local anglers, sunbathers and seashell collectors. But the dangers of the slender island, Marine Corps officials say, far outweigh the fun.
More than 200 large warning signs that have sprinkled the island for years haven't been enough to deter leisurely visitors. Now, Camp Lejeune officials are taking stronger measures to keep people off the island.
Trespassers will now be ticketed, which will require an appearance before a magistrate in Wilmington, according to a military press release. Violators can face imprisonment for up to six months and a maximum $5,000 fine.
If it seems harsh, there's a good reason behind the strict measure.
"It's an actual live-fire range," said Gunnery Sgt. Sean Lamer, an explosive ordnance disposal technician. "A lot of people want to go there and have a good time. But it's not always what you see. It's what you don't see that's a problem."
The island, located between Onslow Beach and Hammocks Beach State Park, is Camp Lejeune-owned property that has been used by troops for live-fire training for more than 50 years. More than 30 types of potentially unexploded ordnance remain there.
"It's a pretty little place called Browns Island, but it's deceiving because it's a dudded impact area," said Lt. Col. Russ Jamison, director of Range Control Division. "Browns Island is literally scattered with unstable unexploded ordnance. It's just waiting to be uncovered."
Last summer, 27 tons of unexploded ordnance was removed from Browns Island by EOD teams. And while those teams periodically comb the beach to discard of what they find, there is always more beneath the surface.
"We don't know how much is out there," Jamison said. "Most of these ranges will always be a live-fire impact range. Just because we're cleaning up doesn't mean it's safe. It will never be safe."
Various types of ordnance regularly wash up on shore or surface in the sand due to wind or rain, he said. Some of those can be small-arms fire and artillery dating back to the 1950s. One type of round from that era even used a quart fuse, which is set off by motion.
"It can even be set off by a shadow," Jamison said.
Browns Island and the surrounding area will now be regularly patrolled for trespassers. Boaters traveling the Intracoastal Waterway near the island are not permitted to stop or tie up their vessels to walk on the island.
The Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps still use the area for training, with live-fire ranging from machine guns to heavy artillery. Some shells can weigh more than 60 pounds and pack a huge explosion.
Jamison said that when firing such weapons, ideally they will explode on target. But that doesn't always happen.
"It may ricochet, it may not get aimed right," Jamison said. "And it might not work the way it's designed."
Two years ago, a Department of Defense organization in cooperation with Camp Lejeune officials used a high-tech machine to scan the surrounding marsh areas, he said. More than 5,000 unexploded ordnance were discovered.
"We're trying to identify as much as we can," Jamison said of his EOD teams, who are constantly "mastering" various types of ordinance.
But EOD specialists don't even know all of the types that have been fired in the past, when Camp Lejeune didn't require such records to be kept.
"What was fired there in the past is basically anybody's guess," said Chief Warrant Officer William Whitlock, base EOD officer. "Some blow up, some don't. They are all shapes and colors and sizes. But if it's been there in the ground, sooner or later it's going to come out."
Jamison asks that boaters simply respect the warning signs.
"It doesn't take a whole lot to turn a fun day at the beach into a tragedy," he said. "We don't want that to happen - our main concern is safety."
Contact staff writer Chrissy Vick at cvick@freedomenc.com or by calling 353-1171, ext. 239.
Ellie
February 16,2007
CHRISSY VICK
Browns Island may offer sandy beaches and sparkling waters to local anglers, sunbathers and seashell collectors. But the dangers of the slender island, Marine Corps officials say, far outweigh the fun.
More than 200 large warning signs that have sprinkled the island for years haven't been enough to deter leisurely visitors. Now, Camp Lejeune officials are taking stronger measures to keep people off the island.
Trespassers will now be ticketed, which will require an appearance before a magistrate in Wilmington, according to a military press release. Violators can face imprisonment for up to six months and a maximum $5,000 fine.
If it seems harsh, there's a good reason behind the strict measure.
"It's an actual live-fire range," said Gunnery Sgt. Sean Lamer, an explosive ordnance disposal technician. "A lot of people want to go there and have a good time. But it's not always what you see. It's what you don't see that's a problem."
The island, located between Onslow Beach and Hammocks Beach State Park, is Camp Lejeune-owned property that has been used by troops for live-fire training for more than 50 years. More than 30 types of potentially unexploded ordnance remain there.
"It's a pretty little place called Browns Island, but it's deceiving because it's a dudded impact area," said Lt. Col. Russ Jamison, director of Range Control Division. "Browns Island is literally scattered with unstable unexploded ordnance. It's just waiting to be uncovered."
Last summer, 27 tons of unexploded ordnance was removed from Browns Island by EOD teams. And while those teams periodically comb the beach to discard of what they find, there is always more beneath the surface.
"We don't know how much is out there," Jamison said. "Most of these ranges will always be a live-fire impact range. Just because we're cleaning up doesn't mean it's safe. It will never be safe."
Various types of ordnance regularly wash up on shore or surface in the sand due to wind or rain, he said. Some of those can be small-arms fire and artillery dating back to the 1950s. One type of round from that era even used a quart fuse, which is set off by motion.
"It can even be set off by a shadow," Jamison said.
Browns Island and the surrounding area will now be regularly patrolled for trespassers. Boaters traveling the Intracoastal Waterway near the island are not permitted to stop or tie up their vessels to walk on the island.
The Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps still use the area for training, with live-fire ranging from machine guns to heavy artillery. Some shells can weigh more than 60 pounds and pack a huge explosion.
Jamison said that when firing such weapons, ideally they will explode on target. But that doesn't always happen.
"It may ricochet, it may not get aimed right," Jamison said. "And it might not work the way it's designed."
Two years ago, a Department of Defense organization in cooperation with Camp Lejeune officials used a high-tech machine to scan the surrounding marsh areas, he said. More than 5,000 unexploded ordnance were discovered.
"We're trying to identify as much as we can," Jamison said of his EOD teams, who are constantly "mastering" various types of ordinance.
But EOD specialists don't even know all of the types that have been fired in the past, when Camp Lejeune didn't require such records to be kept.
"What was fired there in the past is basically anybody's guess," said Chief Warrant Officer William Whitlock, base EOD officer. "Some blow up, some don't. They are all shapes and colors and sizes. But if it's been there in the ground, sooner or later it's going to come out."
Jamison asks that boaters simply respect the warning signs.
"It doesn't take a whole lot to turn a fun day at the beach into a tragedy," he said. "We don't want that to happen - our main concern is safety."
Contact staff writer Chrissy Vick at cvick@freedomenc.com or by calling 353-1171, ext. 239.
Ellie