Big turnout for Corps of Engineers meeting

Chillas Hall was packed last Thursday night with property owners wanting to learn more about a project to search parts of the eastern end of the county for possible unexploded ordnance from the Camp Gordon Johnston amphibious training camp that operated in Franklin County during World War 2.

Much of the county east of Carrabelle is considered a Formerly Used Defense Site, which means that there could still be remnants of old training areas, some of which could even include old bullets and bombs.

The US Army Corps of Engineers plans to investigate certain portions of the old camp especially those areas that included the old bazooka range, grenade court, gunnery range and artillery impact zone.

The government performed a similar project in the area in the 1990’s but because of a change in federal rules they now have to take a second look at several areas with metal detectors and by taking soil and water samples.

They expect the investigation to begin in July or August and be done by December.

After they’ve analyzed the data they will decide whether they need to bring crews for clean up operations.

They will seek permission from any property owners who might be affected by the investigation and may even create a restoration advisory board so the public will have even more input into the project.

If you do live on the east end of the county and find something you suspect is military and possibly dangerous – leave it alone, leave the area, and call the cops.

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