ORLANDO, FL (Thursday, December 6, 2007) – To ensure the safety of its residents and visitors, the City of Orlando will temporarily halt all construction projects at the Pine Castle Jeep Range Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS).

• Effective immediately, the Permitting Services Division will not issue any building permit (including infrastructure and engineering permits) within the affected area until each site is certified clear by a licensed or certified geophysical contractor using generally accepted industry practices, such as ground penetrating radar, sonar, or equivalent technology. This includes home improvement permits (pools, fences, etc) as well as any new construction project permits.

• Additionally, a stop work order will be issued immediately for all active building permits (including infrastructure and engineering permits) in the affected area until each site is certified clear by a licensed or certified geophysical contractor using generally accepted industry practices, such as ground penetrating radar, sonar, or equivalent technology.

World War II-era unexploded munitions and debris were discovered at the Pine Castle Site earlier this year. While the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working to rid the area of potentially dangerous objects, it is still unclear whether (and to what extent) unexploded munitions may be present at the site. For this reason, the City has taken this added, precautionary, measure to lessen the possibility that unexploded munitions might be encountered and disturbed during construction work.

The City believes it is compelled to act in the best interest of its citizens and this precautionary measure is necessary to ensure the safety of the people residing in the area of the Pine Castle Jeep Range site.

The City order will be effective for the bomb target study area identified by the United States Army Corps of Engineers extending to the west of the Pine Castle FUDS Site, and within the remainder of the Vista Lakes Village (Warwick) subdivision which lies outside of the Army Corps November 14, 2007 Bomb Target Study Area.