Dugway seeks to obtain more land
Base officials are not saying how much expansion or why
It's unclear whether the project is the revival of a 1988 Dugway effort to obtain a swath of public land 23 miles wide by 3 miles long, where chemical and conventional weapons contamination occurred. But what is certain is that two other projects besides the expansion show the military wants stronger action to protect the public from leftover ordinance.
Officials of Dugway the bigger-than-Rhode Island base sprawling across much of Utah's western desert aren't saying how much they would like it to expand or even why.
"Dugway has requested permission to study the possibility of increasing the size of Dugway's training and testing ranges," says a base statement prepared in response to a Deseret Morning News question. Dugway officials made the request to their parent organization, the Army Developmental and Test Command, headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.
"We have not received permission to do this yet," the statement adds.
According to one source, the latest round of discussions about Dugway expansion may have begun about a year ago.
Reaching to within 85 miles southwest of Salt Lake City, Dugway is where the Army carries out research on ways to protect against biological or chemical attack. It also hosts conventional weapons training.
In addition, the Air Force's Utah Test and Training Range (UTTR) is located in two huge tracts, the southern one adjacent to Dugway.
Although Dugway no longer tests offensive chemical weapons, decades ago open-air experiments with nerve and mustard agent were carried out there. Some material went off-base, according to reports.
In 1988, Dugway attempted to obtain a swath of Bureau of Land Management property the size of Washington, D.C. A Deseret Morning News report noted that unexploded ordinance containing high explosives or chemicals likely contaminated that region.
Yet the Yellow Jacket and Southern Triangle areas on BLM land were open to hikers, rockhounds and all-terrain vehicle users, the paper noted.
That proposed land acquisition apparently did not succeed, as little further information is available about the attempt in newspaper files.
The latest effort also involves BLM land.
"I have heard that there is informal discussion going on," said Dave Murphy, assistant manager for the BLM's Salt Lake Field Office. He has heard of "exploratory discussions between Dugway and our office."
Asked how much was involved, Murphy replied that he did not "have a clue how much acreage they're interested in." The field manager was not available on Wednesday.
Comments
- Admiral warns of arms race in Asia 11:05 p.m.
- Solar pond expansion sparks comments 10:57 p.m.
- Restaurant destroyed by fire 10:57 p.m.
- Animals removed from filthy home 10:56 p.m.
- Mall owner seeks to retain zoning 10:56 p.m.
- Report: Tabloid hacked voice mails 10:47 p.m.
- National news capsules 10:46 p.m.
- 25 killed, 13 children, in Afghan blast 10:46 p.m.
- Drowning risk greatest in summer 10:38 p.m.
- Schools may give kids swine flu shots 10:36 p.m.
- Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
- Utah's top 10: Wealth of recreation
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- Send Boozer to the Bulls?
- MWC, WAC rushed into BCS
- O'Connor unhappy Fes not with team
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- Keeping golf light on the wallet
- Fatigued Jazz no match for Pacers
- Teen injured in fall from waterfall
- Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
138 - Letters: Palin mistreated
136 - Teachers struggle with district cuts
134 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
121 - 'Tea party' protesters unhappy
107 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Stadium of Fire lights up the 4th
79 - Send Boozer to the Bulls?
76 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
72 - Moon landing: Let's hear from you
71
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
Then there's 09:09:09 09/09/09. Wow, all the possibilities.
In addition to the great testimonials about the Swim Kids program, I must add...
And next year we'll have 05:06:07 08/09/10. Big deal.
my family was there to see the Jonas Brothers
Such a big and special moment for all those who attended, only to find out...
BYU will need to win it's last 4 games and Ventura County Fusion or LA...
Stadium of Fire is about making money. If you are critical you are said to be...
There goes another GM stock. Then again, who cares about the little...
ITS GOOD THEY HAVE A GOOD MANAGER LIKE STEVE WOOD WHO HAS BEEN THERE FOR MANY...
Keep in mind what the Jazz paid Okur - a guy who didn't hit 10 points per...


You can be the first to comment on this story.