"Its a safe situation for the public, " said Jonathan Schafler, refuge manager. "The storage bunker is located in an area closed to the public. All storage bunkers adjacent to the General Dynamics bunker are empty. Weve been working with General Dynamics to implement all necessary safety precautions. At the present time, we dont anticipate closing any public use areas of the refuge because of this situation."
The explosive materials of various types and quantities were identified during a routine inventory of the bunker by General Dynamics. The companys ordnance experts determined that the material was not in a condition that presented safety concerns to public areas of the refuge. However, refuge officials and General Dynamics implemented safety procedures to further restrict access to the bunker while ordnance experts continue to analyze the materials and determine procedures for safely handling and disposing of the material. According to General Dynamics officials, the storage magazine would contain any "inadvertent initiation" of the explosive material.
General Dynamics is working closely with the refuge to ensure public concerns are addressed, and is providing the refuge with regular reports on the status of its evaluation of the explosives and plans for its disposal.
Crab Orchard NWR is a 43,890 acre refuge located near Marion, Ill. Crab Orchard is unique in that the refuge property includes resident youth camps, marinas, campgrounds, a private boat and yacht club, and several industrial sites -- facilities not normally found on a national wildlife refuge. The refuge is also a very popular recreation spot for residents of southern Illinois, hosting 1.2 million visitors annually.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 94-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 535 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 70 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service | | | | | | |
