MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- In accordance with the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty requirements, the initial phase to permanently eliminate 50 previously deactivated 564th Missile Squadron Minuteman III launch facilities has begun here.

The initial phase includes hazardous material surveys and the staging of fill material. The actual removal of the first launcher closure door is tentatively scheduled for late March.

The 50 missile launch facilities set to be eliminated were part of the 564th MS that was deactivated in 2008. The deactivation process involved the removal of intercontinental ballistic missiles from the facilities, and since that time, the silos have remained in caretaker status.

The elimination of these facilities moves the U.S. closer to compliance with New START. New START, which went into effect in February 2011, reduces nuclear capacity in the U.S. and Russian arsenals, and as a result, the Air Force must eliminate a total of 103 missile launch facilities and 10 missile alert facilities by February 2018.

The 103 deactivated ICBM launch facilities are comprised of 50 Minuteman III launch facilities at Malmstrom, 50 Peacekeeper launch facilities, which were deactivated at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo., in 2005, and three test launchers at Vandenberg AFB, Calif. Elimination of the 50 F.E. Warren launch facilities began in August and is scheduled to be fully complete by December 2014.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Air Force Civil Engineering Center selected Bryan Construction Inc. of Colorado Springs, Colo., as the demolition contractor. Current estimates call for eliminating the 50 launch facilities, located in Toole, Pondera, Teton and Chouteau, Mont., counties by early 2015.

The demolition contractor will eliminate the launch facilities by filling them with earth and gravel. Gravel fill is a more effective and environmentally friendly method of elimination that also happens to be faster and is more economical than those used in the past, under the original START. This demolition does not pose any threat to public safety or the environment.

Once the launch facilities are eliminated, the land will be available for purchase. Adjacent landowners will have the first right to purchase the land at fair market value in accordance with United States Code. The land will then be offered to federal, state and local government agencies for their use. The final option for disposing the land is through public auction.

Air Force officials relayed these final land disposition arrangements to the public during environmental assessment public scoping meetings in late 2011 in the towns of Great Falls, Choteau, Shelby and Conrad. At each of these meetings, representatives of the Air Force were available to answer questions regarding the dismantlement effort. Leadership at each location continues to maintain open lines of communication with local landowners, to address any concerns they might have.

For more information or for further questions, please contact the 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs office at 406-731-4050.