CONWAY, S.C. (AP) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wants to check 6,000 acres of private property on the site of an old bombing range near Myrtle Beach for unexploded ordnance.
Area media outlets report the agency has sent letters to 600 property owners in the area of the old Conway Bombing and Gunnery Range used during World War II.
There was an initial investigation in 2012 and now the Corps will be checking a larger area.
Billy Birdwell with the Corps’ Savannah District said once the agency receives permission from property owners, areas will be checked with sophisticated metal detectors.
If what it is found is not to be dangerous, it will simply be documented. Other items may have to be removed.
Several residents in The Farm neighborhood in Carolina Forest received letters. President of the Homeowner’s Association Scott Kavana told News 13 he was notified of the property’s history before buying his house.
“We were informed that this was an ordinance site, a bombing range and we were assured that the area where homes were being built were scanned,” said Kavana.
Kavana also got one of the letters in the mail, but it was regarding common areas in the neighborhood which the HOA is in charge of. While he wonders whether the area was overlooked by the developer, he said it’s not a reason to panic.
“It’s a common, wooded area, there’s not much danger that even if they did find one,” he said.
According to Kavana, the HOA will meet next week to discuss whether or not to allow the Army Corps of Engineers to proceed with their investigation.
“As a board we want to protect our residents and it’s certainly a good way to do it.”