USACE seeks right of entry to former Camp Bowie land

Published March 2, 2018

FORT WORTH, Texas – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is seeking additional right of entry forms from current property owners of former Camp Bowie land in order to begin an engineering study of munitions that may be present from activities at the former Camp Bowie.

The study will lead to USACE formerly declaring the properties free of munitions that pose a significant risk. The study may also declare certain areas to require a munitions cleanup that the USACE will fund and execute if the landowner chooses to grant rights of entry. 

The former Camp Bowie lands are part of the Department of Defense, Formerly Used Defense Site Program and USACE executes FUDS on behalf of DOD.  FUDS are sites formerly owned by, leased to, or otherwise possessed by the United States and under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Defense at the time of actions leading to environmental contamination or the presence of military munitions.  There are hundreds of former military installations in the state of Texas. The former Camp Bowie property consist of 122,000 acres and is located adjacent to and southeast of Brownwood, Texas, in the southern part of Brown County and the northern part of Mills County. This study does not pertain to the Camp Bowie, Texas Army National Guard Training Facility, in Brownwood.

Right of entry is a legal document that will allow USACE or its contractor the ability to be on private property in order to conduct inspection of the property for potential munitions of concern. However, no entry begins without advance coordination with the landowner. The right of entry document can also be cancelled by the landowner at any time.  The nature of the field investigations is detailed in rights of entry material previously mailed to landowners.

Residents and guests are reminded that if you suspect a military munition, it is best to follow the 3Rs of Explosive Safety: Recognize that munitions are dangerous; Retreat – do not approach, touch, move or disturb it, but carefully leave the area; and Report immediately what you saw and where seen to local law enforcement – call 911.  

Scheduled contract mobilization to conduct on site investigations is anticipated for summer of 2018.  For more information, please contact Steve Martin, 817-886-1873 or steven.g.martin@usace.army.mil.

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About the Fort Worth District: The Fort Worth District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was established in 1950. The District is responsible for water resources development in two-thirds of Texas, and design and construction at military installations in Texas and parts of Louisiana and New Mexico.  Visit the Fort Worth District Web site at: www.swf.usace.army.mil and SWF Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/usacefortworth/.


Contact
Clay Church
817-886-1314
819 Taylor Street, Fort Worth, TX 76101

Release no. 18-020