The former Fort Huachuca is located in Cochise County, Arizona. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is investigating and monitoring a former Fort Huachuca training range through the Formerly Used Defense Sites, or FUDS, Program for munitions and explosive hazards that may remain from previous military training activities. This page provides information on the Charleston Maneuver Area project, which is part of the Fort Huachuca FUDS.
Originally, Charleston was occupied from 1879 to 1889 by mill workers from Millville, which is located east the San Pedro River. The Army improved the Charleston ruins after leasing 3,219.92 acres of land from the Boquillas Land and Cattle Company in 1943. This enabled troops at Fort Huachuca to practice combat training in an urban-like setting. The Charleston ruins were used for simulated village and street fighting. The Army also built rifle and artillery ranges near the ruins. The Army terminated the lease with the Boquillas Land and Cattle Company in July 1946.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began investigating the former Fort Huachuca in 1999 through the FUDS Program for munitions that may remain from former military training activities. In 2015, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study at the Charleston Maneuver Area project, which described the extent of munitions that may remain on the site and evaluated potential remedial alternatives to address the potential hazards.
The 2016 Proposed Plan for remediation of munitions hazards at the Charleston Maneuver Area project is available for public review at the Sierra Vista Public Library. The Proposed Plan highlights the previous investigations at the site and presents the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ proposed remedial alternative. Since the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is committed to seeking community input throughout the decision making process, Sierra Vista community members are encouraged to review the Proposed Plan and provide comments during the 30-day public comment period from June 27 to July 27, 2016. Public comments will be considered as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers selects the final remedial alternative.