| Jackson Park Environmental/Munitions Clean-up |
The Jackson Park housing complex and Naval Hospital Bremerton properties served as a Navy ammunition depot from 1904 through 1959. During that time ammunition was made, stored, transported, and destroyed at the site. Ammunition was dumped into, or burned onsite and washed into Ostrich Bay. As a result of past operations, ordnance was improperly disposed of on land and in the marine area, contaminating soil, groundwater and the marine environment. Work has been ongoing in the Jackson Park/Naval Hospital area since 1993 in an effort to identify and remove hazardous materials.
Over the years munitions (ammunition) have been found in Ostrich Bay and within the Jackson Park Housing/Naval Hospital areas. An extensive search for abandoned munitions is ongoing. Residents may have recently seen vegetation cut down close to the ground and trained crews searching for munitions items. A near 100 percent survey of the accessible terrain within the housing areas and the wooded portions of the site were surveyed with magnetometers (a type of metal detector). Any item that was found within the top few inches of the surface was removed and disposed of properly.
Future work will include addressing munitions that may be buried farther below the surface than the top several inches that were recently cleared. Though this work is intended to reduce the risk of encountering munitions, it should be stressed that such encounters cannot be entirely ruled out. Munitions are known to remain in an estimated 65-acre area under and around the pier in Ostrich Bay. In the past, grains of smokeless powder have washed up on the beach. The grains are not metallic, and may appear as black, white, or red-amber colored cylinders. Size varies from as small as a pencil eraser to as large as a person's thumb.
Recent work has included several surveys with different types of sonar to map the floor of the bay. This will aid in addressing discarded munitions there in the future. Because of the possibility for live munitions to be in the vicinity of the pier, swimming, diving, digging and fishing are prohibited from Elwood point south to the navy property line. Signs are posted to remind all residents and visitors.
Recognize that munitions that may remain on site, either uncovered in the uplands or from the marine environment, will look extremely weathered as they had been on site for 50 years or more. Though it may look harmless it still has the potential to cause harm. Sightings of any suspicious looking object should be avoided and immediately reported. Another by-product of the improper disposal practices in the Jackson Park area resulted in soil contamination, which was only found in limited areas and in low concentrations. Soil was cleaned by excavating and taking it to a permitted landfill for disposal, covering it with pavement, or a 12-inch thick blanket of clean soil. Residents are asked not to dig anywhere in the housing area.
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| Drinking Water |
Residents - It is safe to drink your water. Drinking water is provided to Jackson Park by the City of Bremerton, which receives its water from a protected watershed south of the City. Shellfish harvesting is currently prohibited in Ostrich Bay by the Washington State Department of Health because of bacterial contamination, which has not been caused by Jackson Park activities.
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| No Digging Policy |
Parents - please educate your children and visitors on the “no digging” policy and the possible danger of handling unfamiliar objects if found throughout the housing area. The photo's to the right show a sample of the items found since the restoration has project begun.
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| Reporting Found Munitions |
If you find munitions of any kind or items you suspect may be munitions, please follow these instructions:
1. Do not approach or touch the item(s).
2. Call 911 - Tell the operator where you found the item. If possible, remain available to assist officers in locating the item(s).
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| More Information |
For more information, contact:
Public Affairs Office
Naval Base Kitsap
120 S Dewey St
Bremerton, WA 98314
(360) 627-4031
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One Pound Shell found in the vicinity of Myers Rd & Dowell. |
40 MM Projectile |
General Purpose 250 lb Bomb found in Ostrich Bay. |
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