What Are Those Explosions? Tooele Army Depot Is Detonating Munitions

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Residents in the Salt Lake Valley began reporting sounds of explosions Thursday, but the noises were not from earthquake aftershocks. They’re the sounds of obsolete munitions being detonated.

The Tooele Army is conducting open detonation operations, which began Wednesday, according to officials. The exercises have been permitted to run annually from April 1 – Oct. 31 between the hours of 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

“Open Detonation limits the handling of excess munitions and explosives, helping to protect local residents and employees from injury or damage due to explosive safety risks,” the Tooele Army Depot posted on its Facebook page.

“Strict observance of proven OD procedures has resulted in an excellent safety record being earned by the personnel who have helped to destroy the many millions of pounds of obsolete or unstable munitions safely over decades at numerous Department of Defense (DOD) installations,” the post continues.

The Tooele Army Depot serves as a storage site for war reserve and training ammunition. It stores, issues, receives, renovates, modifies, maintains and demilitarizes conventional munitions.