U.S. to Restrict Noisy Firing Near West German Base
The U.S. Defense Department has agreed to limit its weapons-firing at a U.S. Army training area in response to noise complaints, a prominent West German politician said Wednesday.
Alfred Dregger, head of the governing Conservative Party coalition in Parliament, said Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger has approved restricted hours for heavy-weapons practice at the 18,000-acre Wildflecken training area.
Communities surrounding Wildflecken, in hilly wooded country about 18 miles south of Fulda in northwestern Bavaria state, had complained of noise from the 40 firing ranges for more than a year.
Dregger, who represents Fulda in Parliament, said the Pentagon has ruled that firing practice will run from 6 a.m. until midnight on work days and until 6 p.m. on Saturdays.
There will be no firing practice on Sundays and holidays, he said.
Previously, soldiers could practice 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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