Spencer Artillery Range History
In 1940, the Corps of Engineers began securing leases in rural Van Buren, Warren, Sequatchie, and Bledsoe Counties, Tennessee; for the purpose of constructing a main artillery range for Camp Forrest. The camp was used until 1944 and the Corps terminated all leases in 1946.
Decontamination operations were conducted in 1950, 952, 1955, and 1956 and Certificates of Clearance were issued. These certificates stated that a completed decontamination could not be completed and many areas were restricted to ' surface use only.' The landowners were compensated for damages to the land.
On 29 September 1984, the Adjutant General of the Tennessee National Guard (TNG) announced plans for acquiring the former Spencer Artillery Range as a part of new training complex. Despite extensive planning and research, this complex was never constructed.
In 1986, Congress established the Defense Environmental Restoration Program for Formerly Used Defense Sites (DERP-FUDS). As a result, the USACE Nashville District conducted a Project Inventory Report at the former Spencer Artillery range. The report recommended no further actions at the site, since the landowners had already been compensated for damages and the TNG had planned to purchase the land.
After the TNG's plans to purchase the land were canceled on 30 November 994, the Nashville District amended the original Inventory Project Report and recommended further investigation for ordnance and explosives.
On 3 November 1999, an 8-inch High Explosive projectile was found by a crew cutting logging roads. Based on this find, the USACE re-assessed and elevated the priority for investigation of the former Spencer Artillery Range. The USACE began researching archival records at the site.
During these investigation activities, 7 July 2001, a Cookeville, TN boy was severely injured in his home when 37-mm projectile exploded. The projectile had been reportedly found two years previously on the Spencer Artillery Range.