Lead Contamination Plagues State Armories

Tuesday, November 20th 2007, 12:23 pm

By: News On 6

ENID, Okla. (AP) -- Firing ranges built in more than 50 armories around the state have resulted in lead contamination that must be cleaned before the facilities can be turned over to cities and towns. The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality expects to spend about $100,000 per facility cleaning the 59 armories that are being shuttered by the Oklahoma National Guard.

The Oklahoma Military Department contacts DEQ to inspect the armories when they make a determination to close them. DEQ then inspects them and conducts remediation before issuing a report to the cities.

The initial date for beginning the process of closing the armories is 2009, and some may not be closed until 2010 or 2011.

The armories are being closed based on a recommendation by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission. Under the BRAC plan, seven Armed Forces Reserve Centers will be created.