Camp Hale

The Camp Hale defined project area is located on approximately 200,000 acres (about 312 square miles) of the White River and San Isabel National Forests. The project site is in Eagle, Summit, Pitkin and Lake counties, between the towns of Red Cliff and Leadville, and extends from the eastern side of the Tenmile Range to the Mount of the Holy Cross. 

Most of the land within the Camp Hale boundaries is managed by the Forest Service. There are also some small private land holdings within the various National Forests where Camp Hale is located.

• Camp Hale was established in 1942 to provide winter and mountain warfare training during World War II.
• The site was acquired by purchase from private owners and by use permits from the U.S. Forest Service.
• The living area (cantonment area) was constructed in Eagle Park, east of U.S. 24 between Leadville and Red Cliff.
• The camp was established here because of the natural setting of a large, flat valley bottom, surrounded by steep hillsides suitable for training in skiing, rock climbing and cold-weather survival skills.
• The size of Camp Hale varied between 5,000 and 247,243 acres when it was an active military installation.
• From 1942 to 1965, Camp Hale was used to train the 10th Mountain Division, the 38th Regimental Combat Team, the 99th Infantry Battalion and soldiers from Fort Carson in mountain and winter warfare.
• The Army tested a variety of weapons and equipment at the site.
• From 1959 through 1965, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) secretly trained Tibetan soldiers at the installation.
• In July 1965, Camp Hale was deactivated and the Army returned control of the lands to the Forest Service in 1966.
• The Camp Hale project site is administered under the Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) program, which was formed as part of the 1986 amendment to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and assigned to the Department of Defense (DOD).
  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) administers the FUDS program.
  • The program is designed to address risks to human health and the environment due to past military activities in an area.
  • The corps completed an Inventory Project Report on April 6, 1998, establishing Camp Hale as a Formerly Used Defense Site.
• For more history of Camp Hale:
  • Western History and Genealogy at the Denver Public Library.
  • List of historic documents.

Studies to date

• In 2008, the Army Corps of Engineers completed a Site Investigation on 14 Munitions Response Areas (MRSs).
  • Camp Hale Munitions Response Areas Map (3.7 MB).
• Remedial Investigation work began in summer 2011, and due to Camp Hale's significant size and short summer season, will likely continue over a number of years.
• We, the corps and the EPA, in coordination with the Forest Service, are prioritizing area that will be investigated first based on a number of criteria, including public recreational use and planned Forest Service maintenance projects.

Interim Risk Management Plan

• Because Remedial Investigations will continue over a number of years, we and the corps developed an Interim Risk Management Plan to manage potential risks from public exposure to potentially explosive hazards throughout the Camp Hale area.
• The objective of the plan is to enhance public safety by effectively managing potential risks from exposure to military munitions and explosives of concern until remedial actions are completed.
• Key components of the plan include:
  • Identifying locations and user activities warranting risk management.
  • Informing users of the potential to encounter munitions and explosives of concern.
  • Instructing users on how to respond if they encounter suspected items.
  • Ensuring that a formal process is in place to respond to suspected items when they are found.

Munitions response areas at Camp Hale

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Munitions Safety

Munitions may include live munitions fired during training that didn’t fire as designed or training and practice munitions, both of which remain hazardous. We work directly with the Army Corps of Engineers and the Army National Guard at different sites to determine what, if any, risks might be posed to the public and the appropriate mitigation measures.

• Training and practice munitions may also be hazardous.
  • These munitions can contain a type of spotting charge that simulates explosive impact.
  • The spotting charge can vary from a few grains of black powder to several pounds of high explosive.
• Never assume that "training" or "practice" means a munition item is safe to touch.
  • Even the least sensitive items may explode if exposed to careless and improper handling.
• It’s important to remember that military munitions were designed to destroy military supplies and equipment, and to kill or maim people.
• Regardless of their age, munition items retain their hazardous and dangerous nature.
• Leave the handling of munitions to trained experts who can assess the item and make the area safe.

Project team responsibilities

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE, Omaha District).
  • Conducts the environmental cleanup work on former military land under the Formerly Used Defense Site program.
  • The Omaha District has overall management, contractual and funding responsibility for cleanup activities at Camp Hale.
• U.S. Forest Service.
  • Owns and manages the majority of the land within the Camp Hale Formerly Used Defense Site boundary.
• Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
  • Responsible for regulatory oversight for Colorado, ensuring compliance with all state laws and regulations.

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Administrative record

• The Administrative Record is the collection of documents the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers uses to make project-related decisions.
• The record for the Camp Hale Project is maintained throughout the life of the project and is available at the following locations:

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