One or two detonations are planned each week through September, depending on weather, workload and other factors, according to the release.

Detonations involve more than 10,000 pounds of net explosive weight and are meant to destroy old or obsolete Department of Defense rocket motors.

It’s the safest way to dispose of large rocket motors, according to Amanda Burton, 75th Civil Engineer Group’s environmental branch chief, and the UTTR – in Utah’s West Desert, approximately 80 miles west of Salt Lake City – is the only location in the United States permitted for open detonations of large rocket motors.

Since 2012, more than 300 motors have been destroyed there.

In order to ensure acceptable sound levels, the Air Force runs an atmospheric prediction model before each UTTR operation. Detonations are delayed if it’s determined sound will exceed acceptable levels at Wasatch Front locations, though Burton acknowledged the system isn’t perfect.

Vibrations and shaking have occasionally been felt by Northern Utah residents minutes after a detonation on the range.

“The current model we’re using is a fairly reliable tool in determining sound levels produced from a detonation, but atmospheric conditions can change between the time we run the model and the actual detonation, resulting in some potential noise,” Burton said in the release.

Contact Standard-Examiner editor Ryan Comer at rcomer@standard.net.