The Valdez Police Department (VPD) closed Meals Hill before trail construction, which is scheduled to start on Monday, August 19, after discovering a possible explosive hazard during routine trail-clearing operations. The trail will remain closed to the public until further notice.
On Wednesday evening, August 14, a worker uncovered a borehole from a prior blasting operation containing explosive material while working on trail clearing. The individual immediately reported the find to Valdez Dispatch, and the Valdez Police Department Bomb Squad was dispatched to the scene to assess the situation.
Upon inspection, the bomb squad leader, Sgt. Jess Gondek identified explosive material inside the borehole, which was likely due to a rock-blasting misfire. Sgt. Gondek determined there was no immediate danger to the public; however, VPD restricted public access to the area as a precautionary measure.
VPD has contacted Advanced Blasting Services, a commercial blasting company, which is providing specialized equipment to safely retrieve the remaining explosive material from the borehole. This equipment will assist in determining the amount of explosive material present and the borehole’s depth.
Trail clearing operations continue in safe areas of Meals Hill, away from the potential hazard, until the situation is resolved. The Valdez Police Department is committed to ensuring the safety of all workers and the public and will provide updates as needed.