SAVANNAH, Ga. – Officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, will answer questions from residents living on the former Pontiac Bombing Range in eastern Richland County, during a public meeting June 26. The Corps will hold the meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Spring Valley High School Cafeteria, 120 Sparkleberry Lane, in Columbia.
The workshop is come-&-go throughout the evening. Residents may drop by anytime to ask questions. No formal presentation is scheduled.
During the workshop the Corps of Engineers will provide the public information on how the military used the area during World War II. Experts will also discuss past and possible future investigations about possible hazards that might still linger in the area. The Corps of Engineers must periodically notify landowners of the military’s previous use of lands, even if the land has been in private use for decades.
The former Pontiac Bombing Range was used by the Army Air Force in World War II as a practice range. Munitions used there were inert practice bombs containing sand and a small spotting charge approximately equal to the explosive power of a common shotgun shell without pellets.
The former range sits east of Columbia and northeast of the intersection of Hard Scrabble Road and Clemson Road, in a residential area.
While the risk to human safety is very low, officials warn residents to follow the “3Rs” of ordnance safety should they come across something unusual:
Recognize: Realize that the item is out of place or does not belong in the area
Retreat: Note the location but do not handle the item, play with it, carry it home or disturb it further
Report: Contact local law enforcement authorities to report the item and let the experts handle it.
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Release no. 18-026