The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Huntington District periodically holds public meetings in the Grant, Randolph and Tucker county areas regarding the WVMA project. These meetings are advertised in the local newspapers. USACE has developed a list of interested parties, and periodically mails newsletters updating them on project progress. In addition, USACE created and maintains a WVMA project web site. USACE also participates in community events as part of the public involvement effort to educate the public on the WVMA project and UXO safety. USACE responds to individuals desiring information on the WVMA and Dolly Sods areas, and maintains an Administrative Record, which is a compilation of documents that record USACE's decision-making process and activities regarding the project.
The Public Meeting kicked-off the Second Ordnance and Explosives Five Year Recurring Review being conducted on the Dolly Sods Region of the Former West Virginia Maneuver Area (WVMA) Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) Project.
The application of new technologies to be used for the Dolly Sods project was discussed including: Web site design, the use of a digital administrative record/public repository, GPS, GIS and the Ordnance and Explosives Recurring Review Process that USACE conducted. The public awareness and community relations plans were discussed. It was suggested that better methods of informing the public of UXO and related risks be discussed and implemented by the participating agencies.
The history of the Dolly Sods Ordnance project was discussed along with enrollment into the FUDS program and conception and implementation of the unexploded ordnance (UXO) removal action. A presentation of geographic information system (GIS) application to the project was held which demonstrated its benefits to the Dolly Sods area, such as mapping trails and ordnance location. The public awareness and educational campaign for Dolly Sods was discussed and its importance was reiterated by presenting public use statistics for the area and risks involved with UXO.
