CHATTANOOGA ENGINEERS CLUB http://www.chattanooga.net/engineer/CEC Volume LI October 30, 2000 3:30 p.m. 9308 Ooltewah Industrial Blvd THIS WEEK__________________________________________________________________ Please note that our field trip to Lite Speed Racing Components is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Lite Speed is located at 9308 Ooltewah Industrial Blvd. Take I 75 North, Ooltewah exit, right at Ooltewah-Ringold(3rd traffic light), left at Ooltewah Industrial Blvd. Lite Speed is the first building on the right. Look for Blue and Yellow sign on the right. Please park at the gravel lot across the street. Rodney Coogle will lead our tour through the world famous bicycle manufacturing facility. LAST WEEK___________________________________________________________________ Steve Leach, Director of Administration for the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency, spoke on the history of the Volunteer Army Ammunition Plant site and provided the redevelopment Plan for the VAAP property as well as its road access to the community. The Ammunition Plant's history dated back to the beginning of construction in August 1941, production starting in 1943, and being placed on standby status in January 1946. Operation was resumed in June 1952 until March 1957. The last production phase started in 1965, and continued until March 1977 when the plant was shut down. Approximately 823 million pounds of TNT was produced during the 40's, and 284 million pounds were produced during the 50's. Volunteer Ammunition plant produced one seventh of the US production of TNT. Volunteer Site was chosen due to its location, 200 to 250 miles to the coast, accessibility of rail and highway transportation, and availability of raw material, energy and water supply, and labor supply. 6000 workers were employed during construction, and 3000 production employees total. In 1998, US Army approached city and county governments to investigate the possibility of changing the ownership of the property. Aside from the environmental studies, US Army had already concluded that the property is no longer feasible for future ammunition production. The facility is quite outdated, and would be too costly to upgrade or rebuild. Also the surrounding community has developed in such a way that future ammunition production would not be appropriate. Both City and County sees VAAP site as an economic development opportunity. In September 1999, City started the purchasing activities. Recently, on October 3, 2000, 940 acres have been transferred to the local government. There are two areas to be transferred, one is a possible park and recreation area, and the other will be for industrial development. Without much marketing effort, enquiries and proposals have been arriving. City and County are looking for industries with high employment possibilities. For approximately 60 years, the large area of land has been off limits to Hamilton County residents. Security was taken seriously during many phases of the TNT production and later. Residents had to driven the long way around the area. Last year, residents have access through the site, connecting Bonny Oaks to Highway 58. A proposal to provide an I 75 access to the 940 acres has also been submitted. COMING PROGRAM________________________________________________________ November 6 - Gail Ownby-Hughes, Emergency Services Coordinator at Chattanooga State Technical Community College, will present on Industrial Accidents, The NaK Explosion at the Y-12 plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. November 13 - Jerry White, Business Partnership Coordinator of Hamilton County School, will talk about Partners in Education program. November 20 - field trip, Erlanger Wound Center's Hyperbaric Unit. --- Chattanooga Technology Council Mailing List | A free service provided by To unsubscribe, e-mail: ctc-unsubscribe@cdc.net | CDC Internet, Inc. For additional commands, e-mail: ctc-help@cdc.net | http://www.cdc.net "