Detonation season is starting at Hill Air Force Base – and you might hear a boom or two
The Base said it will plan to begin its season of large detonations this month at the Utah Test and Training Range, located just 80 miles west of Salt Lake City. Officials said the detonations would destroy old or obsolete Department of Defense rocket motors.
Depending on weather conditions, Utahns can expect about one or two planned detonations per week from March until September. The detonation schedule is subject to change depending on weather, workload and other factors, however.
Amanda Burton, the 75th Civil Engineer Group's Environmental Branch Chief, said detonation is environmentally the best way to dispose of the large rocket motors and the Utah Test and Training Range is the only permitted place in the United States to do it.
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But these large detonations can create sound waves that, at times, can be felt throughout the Wasatch Front.
Burton explained that the Air Force takes atmospheric readings before any detonation. They check for wind speed, wind direction, and other weather factors to determine whether or not conditions are acceptable for a quiet detonation. If the sound prediction model predicts that the detonation will be louder than permitted levels, the detonation will be delayed.
But sometimes, the sound prediction model can be a little off. This happened last year when detonations at the testing range caused Utahns to from Davis County to Utah County.
'Atmospheric conditions can change rapidly between the time we take a reading and the actual detonation,' said Burton. 'This current model we're using is a very reliable tool in determining how far sound from a detonation will travel from the UTTR.'
Burton said Hill Air Force Base aims to complete its work without adversely affecting the base's neighbors or the environment.
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