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Former Fort Douglas Impact Area, Munitions Response Site

The project that is eligible for the Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) program is the Former Fort Douglas Impact Area, MRS, which encompasses 1,459 acres. Most of the MRS extends into the western elevations of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest and the Red Butte Canyon Research Natural Area.  A thin area of the MRS runs along the front of the range encompassing University of Utah buildings and private residential properties. (See map of Former Fort Douglas Impact Area MRS at right)

Camp Douglas (named after Stephen A. Douglas by Abraham Lincoln) was established in October 1862 as a small military garrison about three miles east of Salt Lake City, for the purpose of protecting the overland mail route and telegraph lines along the Central Overland Route.  In 1878, the post was renamed Fort Douglas.  In the 1960s, the mission of the installation was to support active Armed and Armed Forces Reserve component training in Utah, Idaho and Montana.  The Fort Douglas Impact Area MRS included rifle ranges, skeet ranges, a pistol range, an anti-aircraft range, a shotgun range, a machine gun range, and a rifle obstacle course.

Camp Douglas, Utah, with the Wasatch Mountains in the background in 1868. Photo Courtesy of Library of Congress.
Camp Douglas, Utah, with the Wasatch Mountains in the background in 1868. Photo Courtesy of Library of Congress. 

Current Status

USACE is currently conducting the Remedial Investigation / Feasibility Study (RI/FS) phases of the FUDS process.  The project objective is to collect information, through field investigations, to determine the need for remedial actions to protect human health and safety and the environment, and then identify options for remediation and calculate the costs to cleanup if necessary.

During these phases, surveys will be conducted to determine locations of possible munitions and soil analysis will be conducted to determine if there are any contaminants of concern. An analysis of the analytical findings will then be done to evaluate risks and remedial alternatives.

What are Formerly Used Defense Sites?

During the past two centuries, the Department of Defense (DOD) has used land throughout the United States to train soldiers, airmen, sailors and Marines to ensure the nation's military readiness. As training and testing needs changed, DOD obtained property or returned the property to private or public uses.  Today, the DOD is responsible for the environmental restoration (cleanup) of contamination caused by the DOD on properties that were formerly owned by, leased to, or otherwise possessed by the United States and under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Defense prior to October 1986. Such properties are known as Formerly Used Defense Sites or FUDS. The U.S. Army is the DOD’s lead agent for the FUDS Program. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) executes the FUDS Program on behalf of the U.S. Army and DOD. The U.S. Army and DOD are dedicated to protecting human health and the environment by investigating and, if required, cleaning up possible contamination that may remain on these properties from past DOD activities.

Project Location Map with Impact Areas
Project Location Map with Impact Areas

Administrative Record

The Administrative Record contains all information considered or relied upon in the decision making process in the selection of any response actions that may be needed at the Former Parks AFB.  The Administrative record is available here in electronic format, as well as at the Former Fort Douglas. The Administrative Record will be established by August 2022 at the Salt Lake City Public Library, 210 E 400 S, Salt Lake City, Utah  84111. (801) 524-8200.  

Final PA and SI Workplan
Final SI Report
SI Phase Fact Sheet
RI/FS Phase Fact Sheet
Letter to the community looking for RAB interest.  

Upcoming Documents
RI QAPP
Community Relations Plan

Contact Information

If you have any questions regarding either the USACE FUDS Program or the Former Fort Douglas MRS FUDS Project, please contact:

Sacramento District Public Affairs Office
(916) 557-5100 / spk-pao@usace.army.mil