Planners from Stafford and Prince William counties got to witness what most of their jurisdictions’ residents only hear, when they took a tour of Marine Corps Base Quantico, including a stop at Range 7, where the lieutenants of The Basic School’s Fox Company practiced calling for support fire.

As the Marines launched volleys of 81-millimeter mortars, and unseen artillery guns fired 155-millimeter rounds into the impact area from over the hills, the explosions were likely rattling some windows in nearby residences the morning of Oct. 31, but where the county planners stood with a handful of base officials, they positively rocked the air.

The seven visiting county officials were members of the technical advisory group for the joint land use study that Stafford, Prince William and Fauquier counties have been carrying out with the base since February. The purpose of the study, which is scheduled to produce a final report around the end of this year, is to avoid conflicts in land use between the base and surrounding communities.

One example of potential conflict is the construction of residential communities near ranges that support the kind of training planners witnessed at Range 7.

“We basically invited them out so they could see up-close what the noisemakers are,” said Steve Hundley, Quantico’s community plans and liaison officer.  

As the busload of visitors left the range, it took less than two minutes on an unimproved road to drive from the training range to Garrisonville Road, where a neighborhood of large homes stood directly across the street.

The tour also took visitors to the base’s Range Management Branch, where Range Operations Officer James Woodfin explained to them how operators at the Range Control Facility monitor all activities taking place in and over the base’s training areas. They also visited Charlie Demolition Range, where the base’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team works.

There, Capt. Jeremiah Hamric, officer in charge of the EOD, explained that the largest explosives that can be detonated at Charlie Demo Range are 50 pounds, but these are rare.

“On a clear day, I don’t think you could hear 50 pounds out in town,” he said. However, noting that the day was overcast, and cloud cover reflects sound, he said the team probably would not be allowed to detonate such an explosive on that particular day.

“I think the point of the [joint land use study] is to identify how we can work together to protect the base and maintain its operations while continuing to grow around the base,” said Ray Utz, chief of long-range planning for Prince William County and the only Prince William official on hand for the tour. To accomplish that, he said, it was valuable to witness some of the base’s noisier activities first-hand.

Utz said the training had been even louder than he had expected, adding, “Understanding how the weather affects noise was something I don’t think I ever really thought about.”

“We’ve got a partnership with the Marine Corps, and they’re part of our community,” said Jeff Harvey, director of Stafford County’s Planning and Zoning Department, noting that the base is a major economic driver for the region.

Harvey said it was instructive to see explosive ordnance training up-close. “So far, my experience has been looking at maps and seeing the noise impact areas,” he said.

Hundley said the tour had stopped at Charlie Demolition Range because Stafford County is planning a mixed-use development in the Boswell’s Corner area, which is within the range’s noise footprint.

But he said, “Our biggest concern is all this residential development over there where Range 7 is,” noting that another subdivision is being planned just across Garrisonville Road from the entrance to the range. The community is being built in accordance with Stafford’s land-use plan, leaving the county with little control over the decision.

Hundley noted that, in addition to detonating mortars and artillery at the nearby range, the Marines also use air munitions at Range 7. “So when they bring out the 500-pound bomb or any other air munitions, that’s where they drop it.”

He said the base has fewer concerns about conflicting land uses in Prince William and Fauquier counties because most of the ranges are closer to Stafford, in the south of the base.

— Writer: mdicicco@quanticosentryonline.com