Operational Range Clearance and Maintenance of Fox Range, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Pu’uloa Range Training Facility, Ewa Beach, Hawaii

Client: NAVFAC Pacific

Project Overview: The primary purpose of this project was to perform operational range clearance (ORC) and maintenance activities at Fox Range.  The scope of work included removing the existing berm, sifting and segregating any projectiles or debris, and relocating the berm soil 40 yards inland from its previous location.  ERRG used an excavator to remove the top 3 feet of soil from the berm face, which was stockpiled for screening in a centralized screening area.   A trommel was used to mechanically screen the segregated soil for bullet fragments, casings, and other debris.  Approximately 10 percent of the soil that was screened in the trommel was placed on the manual screening station and re-screened to verify that all fragments had been removed to the required standard as part of the QC process. Segregated debris was transported off the project site for recycling. 

After the top 3 feet of soil was removed for screening, the remainder of the range berm, down to sand, was excavated and relocated to the stockpile location approximately 40 yards inland.  An excavator and a front-end loader were used to relocate the berm, which involved transporting soil from the existing berm to the new stockpile.  The relocated soil was placed on 6-mil black poly sheeting, covered with additional sheeting, and secured with gravel-filled bags.  When the stockpile was completed, the plastic covered was further reinforced by ropes and additional weighted materials to minimize movement over the cover during the anticipated storage period, and silt fence was installed around the base of the pile.

Distinctive/Unique Features: As with many of the range sustainment projects that we perform, the fieldwork had to be performed within a limited amount of time. 

Personnel were required to verify that there were no Hawaiian Monk Seals (endangered species) that were hauled up on the beach adjacent to the project site throughout the day.

Challenges/Solutions: The project was bid to perform the screening operations by hand, however with the shortage of personnel, and the identification of the trommel resource, the work approach was changed shortly before mobilization in order to shorten the duration of field work and also decrease the potential ergonomic concerns associated with hand sifting.

Soil screening using a trommel requires appropriate soil moisture conditions. Unfortunately it rained the first week of fieldwork.  The crew was able to modify the flow of work to adjust the work process and accommodate the delay in soil screening activities that resulted from the rain.

End Result/Customer Satisfaction: The project was successfully completed on schedule and the client was pleased with the work that was performed.