Owner of land of old bomb testing site sues federal government

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The owner of land that was once used to test bombs in the World War II era is suing the federal government for the cost of the clean up.

The bombs were found in 2007 in a neighborhood near Odyssey Middle School in Orange County on what was the old Pine Castle Jeep Bombing Range.

The owner said he has already spent more than $11 million.

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Previous Stories on clean up effort: 

WWII bomb cleanup underway near Pinecastle Jeep Range

World War II-era ammunition detonated in Orlando

Planning and Zoning Board OKs plans to build on former bombing site

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People who live behind the 1,500-acre property said they still hear explosions from time to time as the work is done.

In 2007, Army Corp of Engineers had crews using equipment trying to find unexploded ordnance left over from the bomb and weapon testing site.

Officials said 260 bombs and 14 tons of bomb debris were discovered and disposed of that year—some of which was under the middle school.

The site, which borders Odyssey Middle School, is owned by a South Florida corporation.

The company, Mockingbird Orlando, is suing the federal government, contending that when the family behind the corporation bought the property in the 1950s, it never disclosed there might be unexploded bombs in the ground.

For the past 13 months, it has spent more than $11 million to clean it up as part of an agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and they estimate the dollar amount could rise to $30 million.

The federal government hasn’t answered the lawsuit yet, but an attorney for the owners said they expect it to be done early next year, and the owner would have to get clearance from the state DEP before the land could be used.

Cox Media Group