NATIONAL GUARD GETS LEAD OUT AT ARMORIES THROUGHOUT REGION

The Missouri National Guard is removing lead particles, lead dust, and sand from former indoor shooting ranges at 32 national Guard armories in Missouri so Guard units can resume full safe use of their buildings.

Work began in Cape Girardeau and progressed to Dexter and Sikeston. It is complete at those sites pending sampling results.

The work is expected to continue in the following order of armories: Fredericktown, Desoto, Hannibal, Chillicothe, Albany, Independence, Warrensburg, Richmond, Marshall, Mexico, Warrenton, St. Clair, Salem, Webb City, Nevada, Carthage, Anderson, Lamar, Pierce City, Joplin, Neosho, Rolla, Perryville, Portageville, Farmington, Maryville, Moberly, Clinton and Kansas City.

"This is part of the Guard's continuing effort to deal with environmental matters in a safe and responsible matter," Maj Gen. Raymond Pendergrass, Missouri Adjutant General said. "While we took steps year ago to meet standards for protection from lead in these ranges, we felt that wasn't good enough. Two years ago, we closed all these ranges until we could arrange this cleanup."

The work is being done by a St. Charles firm, Action Environmental, at a total cost of about $310,000, with completed expected by March of April.

the ranges typically have heavy steel plates behind the target area, angled over a sandpit that traps spent bullets. The sand in the traps contain bullet fragments and lead dust. In addition to removing the sand and its lead, the contractor is also cleaning up any lead dust found to have contaminated interior surfaces.

Once the range areas are cleaned and sampling confirms the work, units will be able to use the former ranges for other purposes. In almost all armories, indoor range use will not resume.

"We're getting out of that business," Pendergrass said, "except in a few places where we have top flight indoor ranges and some special training needs. The hazards of lead aside, the coming capabilities of simulators will make it almost unnecessary to fire weapons inside."