Missoula crews hunt for unexploded ordnance

MISSOULA – The search is on for unexploded ordnance at a former military training site at the Blue Mountain Recreation Area south of Missoula.

About a dozen workers with Pennsylvania-based Weston Solutions will be in the area for about a week using metal detectors to comb the site that held military training exercises for some 50 years.

“This is one of the suspect areas we’re definitely going to investigate,” Weston Solutions project supervisor Rick Logsdon told the Missoulian newspaper.

The Army National Guard contracted with the company as part of the Military Munitions Response Program that searches former military training sites across the country.

“There’s technology now that allows us to locate those munitions and dispose of them safely,” said Maj. Tim Crowe of the Montana National Guard.

Neither the Army National Guard nor the Forest Service has ever had a documented report of unexploded ordnance at the former training area.

The Blue Mountain area was part of the old Fort Missoula Military Reservation. The area was transferred to the Lolo National Forest by an executive order signed by President Harry Truman in 1952, but live-fire activity continued through 1986. Other military training was held in the area through 1992.

Officials said depending what is found, more advanced equipment could be brought in to help clear the area.