PEARL HARBOR – The Navy announced today various Munitions and Explosives of Concern (MEC) or potentially explosive items that have been found at Ordy Pond, Kalaeloa, is scheduled to be destroyed through controlled detonations at a safe, pre-designated location at the project site on Sept. 29, 2014.
“As demonstrated in the past, the Navy has taken important steps to execute this scheduled controlled detonation,” said Aaron Poentis, Navy Region Hawaii environmental director. “We continue to take actions such as this to protect the public. At no time will the public nor will any of the cultural and archeological resources on the project site be at risk. The designated site is secured by the contractor, who is trained to execute this type of work.”
The public at White Plains Beach, the Kalaeloa race track, or others living in the Kapolei area may observe a series of loud noises and smoke that indicates intentional detonation actions to render the items harmless.
This effort on Sept. 29 is specifically designed to render harmless pyrotechnics that include various flares and markers. The tentative time for the detonation is between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The designated detonation area is secured by Cape Environmental Management Inc., the contractor, who is trained to execute this type of work. All of these efforts are under the complete oversight of the State of Hawaii’s regulatory agencies.
The Navy expects there to be future controlled detonations as needed and will inform the public prior to the action. This is the third controlled detonation at the Ordy Pond Site in Kalaeloa since 2013.
Ordy Pond is located between the old Naval Air Station air field and White Plains Beach at Kalaeloa. It’s within a partially fenced area and filled with fresh water. The pond measures 200 feet across and 19 feet deep at its deepest location. The site was part of the Navy’s Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) and is currently owned by the Navy.
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