The Department of Public Safety earlier said that today’s detonation operation, the third for this year, had been originally set for June 18, but was reset for today to give the conference participants a chance to view it.
Jim Callier of the Division of Environmental Quality said transportation will be provided for the participants who want to view the detonation.
He said viewing the detonation operation at Suicide Cliff in Marpi is included in the Marpi Unexploded Ordnance Tour for the participants.
The group will also visit the “Boom Cave,” the unexploded ordnance storage pit/detonation pit, as well as the Brownfields ordnance removal project.
For the detonation operation, DPS acting spokesman Jason T. Tarkong said the road to Marpi will be closed to tour and dive operators, farmers, joggers, bikers and the general public from 12 noon to 4:30 p.m.
Tarkong said the detonation operation will be jointly conducted by the DPS, the Emergency Management Office and the U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Detachment Marianas.
Tarkong said he only area that will not be closed will be Suicide Cliff which will be the main viewing point for the detonation. Public access to Suicide Cliff is allowed only through the road leading up to the Far East Broadcasting antenna for viewing purposes.
“DPS will set security posts to enforce and control traffic movement for safety purposes,” Tarkong said.
The first detonation this year was done on April 24 where over 1,000 lbs of live World War 11 ordnance were detonated, the biggest volume for the past five years.
The second operation was done on May 29 when another over 1,000 lbs of ordnance were detonated.
Majority of the ordnance was unearthed from the Marpi homestead project.
