Unexploded Ordnance in Tierrasanta
The Tierrasanta community and the northern portion of the Mission Trails Regional Park (MTRP) were once part of the former Camp Elliott, used by the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) for artillery, anti-aircraft, and machine gun training. The munitions used ranged from 37 millimeter (mm) high explosive (HE) to 155mm HE and shrapnel projectiles.
Military use of Camp Elliott began in 1917 and continued to 1960. In 1961, the Navy declared 15,000 acres of the former Camp Elliot, including the area that became the Tierrasanta community and MTRP, to be excess land. This land was sold over several years by the General Services Administration to real estate developers and private individuals. Additionally, property was transferred to local municipalities. The remainder of Camp Elliott was retained by the military and is part of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
Portions of the former Camp Elliott have been subject to several clearance actions, including one in 1964 by the U.S. Navy, one in 1965 by the USMC, and one in 1973 by the U.S. Army. Even after the multiple surface clearances, two boys from the Tierrasanta community were killed by accidental detonation of a 37mm HE projectile in 1983. Additional investigations have been conducted at the former Camp Elliott since 1984 through the Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) Program. Since that time, the former Camp Elliott has been divided into four FUDS project areas: Tierrasanta (comprises the Tierrasanta community); Mission Trails (comprises the northern portion of MTRP); East Elliott; and Areas D, G, and H.
Even though multiple surface and subsurface clearances have been performed, there is still a potential for encountering munitions and explosives of concern (MEC) in the Tierrasanta community and MTRP. While the chances of encountering unexploded ordnance or MEC items are slim, the risk does exist and you should be wary of any type of old metal you might find within the Tierrasanta community and the MTRP. Protect yourself, your family, your friends, and your community in the unlikely event you encounter potential munitions, and learn and follow the 3 Rs:
Recognize: when you may have encountered a munition. Do not touch or pick up suspicious items, whether they are whole or in fragments.
Retreat: Mark a location near the item and carefully move away on the same path you entered – do not run.
Report: Call 911. Notify local law enforcement that you found a suspect ordnance item. Tell them what you saw and where you saw it.
Warning signs, as shown in the photo below, have also been installed throughout the Tierrasanta community (and the neighboring Mission Trails Regional Park).
Currently, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District, is performing a Five-Year Review of the former Camp Elliott for Tierrasanta and Mission Trails to evaluate whether previously implemented munitions response actions continue to minimize explosives safety risks and remain protective of human health and safety and the environment. Please visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6LS7CCV if you would like to participate in a brief survey to provide input for the Five-Year Review. The survey will be available through October 31, 2020.
For more information on the past military use of the site, please visit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District’s website for the Camp Elliott project: https://www.spl.usace.army.mil/Missions/Formerly-Used-Defense-Sites/Camp-Elliott/.
Additional information is also available at these information repositories:
• Tierrasanta Library, 4985 La Cuenta Drive, San Diego, CA 92124
• Mission Trails Regional Park, 1 Father Junipero Serra Drive, San Diego, CA 92119