The Spencer Artillery Range FUDS property encompasses 30,618 acres in Van Buren, Warren, Sequatchie, and Bledsoe counties, approximately 10 miles southeast of McMinnville and 12 miles south of Spencer, Tennessee. From 1941 until 1944, the former Spencer Artillery Range served as the main artillery range for Camp Forrest in Tullahoma, Tennessee, 45 miles to the southwest. The U.S. Army established two impact areas: the Jake’s Mountain Impact Area (5,060 acres) and the Bald Knob Impact Area (2,090 acres). Troop training in these areas included the use of anti-aircraft guns; mortars; anti-tank rockets; target rockets; and artillery rounds of various sizes including 20 millimeter (mm), 37mm, 75mm, 105mm, and 155mm rounds. In 1942, Spencer Artillery Range personnel requested clearance of an additional 10,000 acres between Jake’s Mountain Impact Area and Bald Knob Impact Area to provide maneuver space within the existing impact areas. In addition, the U.S. Army requested funds for an anti-tank range at Bald Knob Impact Area suitable for 75mm and 105mm projectiles.
By September 22, 1944, Army Ground Forces had either departed or were under orders to depart Spencer Artillery Range. After their departure in 1944, units from Dyerburg Army Airfield used Spencer Artillery Range as an air-to-ground gunnery range. By August 1946, the U.S. Army had cancelled all leases for lands associated with Spencer Artillery Range and returned the land to the original 25 owners. Today, all land within the Spencer Artillery Range FUDS property is privately owned, except for the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail and public rights of way.
USACE conducted a Remedial Investigation (RI) at the Spencer Artillery Range FUDS property in 2010 to characterize munitions and explosives of concern (MEC) and munitions constituents. Investigative activities included the use of geophysical equipment on paths (called transects) and grids (square or rectangular areas of various sizes) to map metallic objects in the ground. USACE finalized the RI report in March 2011 and concluded that MEC is potentially present that poses an explosive hazard to people and the environment. No unacceptable risks associated with munitions constituents were identified.
In March 2019, USACE finalized a Feasibility Study to evaluate different alternatives to remediate MEC hazards at the following projects within the Spencer Artillery Range FUDS property:
- Project 01 (Munitions Response Site [MRS] 01): RI Long Term Monitoring Areas;
- Project 03 (MRS-03): Covenant Farms 5-Acre Lots;
- Project 04 (MRS-04): Covenant Farms Large Lots;
- Project 05 (MRS-05): Recreation/Cabins;
- Project 06 (MRS-06): Sequoia Subdivision;
- Project 07 (MRS-07): Indian Trails Phase III; and
- Project 08 (MRS-08): Rocky River Road – Residential.
In August 2020, USACE presented to the public, in a Proposed Plan, its preferred remedial alternative for each project. After considering public comment, USACE approved Decision Documents in 2021 to select Remedial Actions for each project. For Project 01, the selected Remedial Action involves educational awareness and the installation of warning signs. For Projects 03 through 08, the selected Remedial Actions involve geophysical investigations and MEC removal with educational awareness.
USACE began implementing the Remedial Action for Project 01 in September 2023, which consists of educational awareness in the form of fact sheets and the installation of warning signs within the Project 01 area. USACE is currently developing work plans and designing fact sheets and warning signage for this project. The Remedial Action is tentatively scheduled to be implemented in 2025.