At 1 p.m. on Friday, a joint team from the Guam-based U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal detachment in the Marianas and the CNMI Explosive Ordnance Team composed of police officers from the Department of Public Safety and the Commonwealth Ports Authority detonated over 1,000 pounds of live World War II ordnance at the Laderan Laggun Cliff Line.
Scott said about 1,200 pieces of unexploded ordnance or about 1,000 lbs. of various artillery, projectiles, hand grenades, mortar rounds, and other ordnance were detonated, the biggest volume to be detonated for the past five years.
He said about 95 percent of the unexploded ordnance detonated on Friday was unearthed from the Marpi Brownsfield project over a six-week period, beginning March 1.
“The clearing process is still ongoing so we can expect more unexploded ordnance to be retrieved,” Scott said.
He added that the recommended volume that can be stored in the storage pit is only over 700 lbs.
The unexploded ordnance was buried in a sandy pit before the bomb disposal team went up the Suicide Cliff lookout where DPS Commissioner Santiago Tudela pushed the button for the detonation.
CNMI Explosive Response Team commander Capt. Pete Leon Guerrero said they will be scheduling another detonation operation sometime in June or July.
Guerrero said the joint teams prepared the site for the detonation on Friday morning, closing the road leading to Marpi area from 12 noon to 3 p.m.
Earlier, Scott asked the community to call 911 immediately to report any sightings or discovery of any unexploded ordnance in their backyards or areas and not to mess with it.
Scott warned residents not to try to handle any unexploded ordnance and keep it far from fire.
In Oct. 24, 2008, 250 pieces of unexploded World War II ordnance were detonated in Marpi.
