The Bureau of Land Management is taking public comments on a parcel of land in the West Valley once popular with target shooters. An environmental assessment on the parcel could dictate future use of the land.
The site is located southwest of the White Tank Mountains near Miller Road, and was once a popular target-shooting area near Buckeye.
It was closed two years ago during repairs to nearby telephone lines.
The BLM later found that soil in the area had high levels of lead and arsenic. The area could be used for outdoor recreation once the toxic chemicals are removed.
“Any active shooting area has carcinogens that are associated with target shooting, so, yes, there are some lead levels in the soil that we want to remediate back to the residential standard,” said Leon Thomas, Phoenix district manager for the Bureau of Land Management.
Members of the public have until Feb. 22 to comment on the environmental assessment.
