APG Plans Weekend Testing Near Bush River

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MD — Unusual noises and waterway restrictions are possible this weekend in Harford County due to testing at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG).

Daytime firing is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 7, according to a statement from APG.

"A portion of APG restricted waterways are scheduled to be closed to recreational traffic, including from Bush River buoy number 5 to the APG reservation line in the Chesapeake Bay," APG advised.

If they need to get by during the closure, boaters may contact U.S. Army patrol boats on VHF Marine Band Radio Channel 68.

Army patrol boats will allow traffic in and out of the Bush River area periodically Saturday.

Notice of the testing on Saturday comes after this week APG conducted testing that Baltimore County police said prompted a series of messages from residents there.

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APG assured community members the military testing was not dangerous to them and was critical to the installation's mission as a research institution.

"These operations are not hazardous to residents in our surrounding communities and are integral to ensuring continued readiness of service members," APG said in a statement. "Organizations on APG take every measure to mitigate instances when training or testing becomes problematic to residents off the installation. To ensure we minimize the impact to our neighbors, we monitor the weather and the noise readings continuously throughout each day."

Those with concerns about testing at Aberdeen Proving Ground may call the installation at 410-278-4415.