Current News

We’re working with the Army National Guard Directorate to determine what, if any, risks might be posed to the public from past military activities at Camp George West and nearby Green Mountain, west of Denver.

Military munitions debris can indicate the potential presence of other, more dangerous munitions-related items in the same area. Some of these items could explode if not handled properly.

The area is heavily used by the public year-round for walking pets, running, hiking, biking and other outdoor activities.

We and the Army National Guard have developed a plan for further investigating the area and providing public education to protect users. This work is ongoing.

The three R’s of munitions safety

Recognize

Recognizing when you may have encountered a munition is key to reducing the risk of injury or death.

If you encounter or suspect you’ve encountered a munition, consider it extremely dangerous.

Munitions are sometimes hard to see and identify. They may resemble: A pointed pipe. A soda can. A baseball. A muffler. Other metal objects.

They may be: Visible on the surface. Buried. Exposed by erosion or fires.

They may look new or old, be complete or in parts, be found alone or in groups.

Any suspect items should be considered dangerous, regardless of size or apparent age.

Retreat

If you encounter or suspect you’ve encountered a munition, don’t touch, move or disturb it.

Immediately and carefully leave the area, following the same path on which you entered.

If you can, mark the general area — not the munition — in some manner (e.g., with a hat, piece of cloth, or tying a piece of plastic to a bush or tree branch).

Report

Call 911 immediately.

Notify local law enforcement of what you saw and where you saw it.

If you or someone you know may have collected munitions-related items as souvenirs, please notify law enforcement immediately so trained professionals can remove the items safely.

Background

Camp George West is located near the junction of West Colfax Avenue and Interstate 70, 3 miles east of Golden.

It was founded in 1903 as the Colorado Army National Guard's permanent rifle range and training facility.

A historic document indicates that during the 1930s, the National Guard leased a portion of Green Mountain for use as an artillery impact area for rounds fired from Camp George West. The specific boundaries of the impact area are as yet undetermined. Recent finds of military munitions debris indicate the historic impact area is likely on the north side of Green Mountain. The items found to date are mainly pieces of spent shells from the pre-World War II era.

On Feb. 11, 1993, Camp George West was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district.

Currently, the site occupies approximately 100 acres.

Multiple users occupy the property, including the Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the Colorado Department of Transportation, the Colorado Correctional Center and the Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

William Frederick Hayden Park on Green Mountain is in Jefferson County and maintained by the city of Lakewood.

The terrain is a popular outdoor recreational area, with approximately 20 miles of trails.

Concerns to date

Military munitions used in training exercises during World War I and World War II sometimes failed to function as intended. Often referred to as "duds," "bombs," "dummy rounds" or other terms, these items today are defined as "unexploded ordnance" (UXO) because of their potential for exploding when improperly handled. These items come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and can be disposed of safely only by trained Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) professionals. Over the years, users of the Green Mountain recreational area may have come into contact with items that they may not have recognized as military munitions or munitions-related debris. Until the area can be further evaluated to ensure public safety, we and the Army National Guard want to provide the public an understanding of the potential presence of these items and the appropriate actions to take if they encounter something suspicious.



Investigating the area