Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Air Force has opened a public comment period for the clean-up of the former Coos Head Air National Guard Station. As Kristian Foden-Vencil reports, old lead bullets and other munitions continue to pollute the area.

Coos Head is about 40 acres of land butted up against the ocean near Coos Bay. It’s been used by the Army, Navy or Air Force since 1875.

In 2005, however, it was handed over to the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians. But it still contains four old firing ranges.

They’ve been cleaned once, but lead and other chemicals remain in the soil.

Air Force spokesman, Roger Rein, says they want to hear from people about the clean-up, but they’ve already decided to go with the most expensive option – the complete removal of all contaminants.

Roger Reins: “The proximity of it is right at the inlet to Coos Bay, just below it is a public access beach and if contaminants migrate, it could impact a lot of people.”

The tribes plan to build a community center, housing, a police station and other offices on the land. But first it needs a clean bill of health.