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The '''Regional Public Safety Firearms Training Center''' (commonly referred to as the Regional Firearms Training Center) is an indoor firearms range constructed jointly by the [[University of Virginia]], [[Albemarle County]], and [[Charlottesville]] for police training activities. The 19,054-square-foot building is located on a portion of the [[Milton Field]] property, owned by the [[University of Virginia]]. The building includes two 50-yard firing ranges and a classroom with sufficient space to practice hand-to-hand combat, de-escalation, and other interpersonal scenarios. The building's design included features to assist in managing lead and heavy metal dust and debris, including air filtration systems and weapons cleaning areas. Local officials held a dedication ceremony for the completed building on May 12, 2016, and expected that the three jurisdictions’ police officers would be able to begin using it by June 2016. <ref>{{cite-cville|title=Partners in arms: City, county and UVA cut ribbon on indoor firing range|url=https://www.c-ville.com/partners-arms-city-county-uva-cut-ribbon-indoor-firing-range|author=Lisa Provence|publishdate=May 17, 2016|accessdate=August 13, 2021}}</ref> <ref>{{cite-progress-bh|title=Area’s police forces get ‘the perfect environment to shoot in’|url=https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/area-s-police-forces-get-the-perfect-environment-to-shoot-in/article_d9c0c65e-18ae-11e6-95ef-fbdd933814a2.html|author=Lauren Berg|publishdate=May 12, 2016|accessdate=August 13, 2021}}</ref> <ref name="cbs19-opening">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbs19news.com/story/41894520/gun-firing-range-ready-for-use-in-albemarle-county|title=Gun firing range ready for use in Albemarle County|publishdate=May 12th, 8:49 PM EDT 2016|publisher=WCAV-TV CBS19|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|accessdate=March 16, 2021}}</ref>

The building was designed by Clark Nexsen.<ref>{{cite web|title=Albemarle County Firearms Training Facility|url=https://www.cnpublicsafety.com/project/albemarle-county-firearms-training-facility/|publisher=Clark Nexsen Public Safety and Shooting Sports Facilities|accessdate=August 13, 2021}}</ref> The design was intended to mitigate the concerns of local residents, who had expressed concern about the impacts of the facility on the surrounding area, including the [[Glenmore]] subdivision. <ref>{{cite-progress-bh|title=Officials tout noise-abating features of proposed Milton firing range|url=https://dailyprogress.com/news/officials-tout-noise-abating-features-of-proposed-milton-firing-range/article_32f15e66-0e28-11e4-aa18-001a4bcf6878.html|author=|publishdate=July 17, 2014|accessdate=August 13, 2021}}</ref> <ref name="dp-glenmore-concerns">{{cite-progress-bh|title=Glenmore residents voice concerns over proposed Milton firing range|url=https://dailyprogress.com/news/glenmore-residents-voice-concerns-over-proposed-milton-firing-range/article_4ef9480a-e216-11e3-9fe3-0017a43b2370.html|author=Aaron Richardson|publishdate=May 22, 2014|accessdate=August 13, 2021}}</ref> Prior to construction of the building, the [[University of Virginia]] police department used an open-air firing range on the same [[Milton Field]] site, creating noise which was easily audible from [[Glenmore]].<ref name="dp-glenmore-concerns"/> At the time of the indoor range's opening in 2016, local media reported that the building was soundproofed to reduce gunfire noise down to 40 dBA, equivalent to distant car traffic or wind rustling leaves.<ref name="cbs19-opening"/>

An initial decision to locate a public safety firing range outdoors in [[Keene]] was overturned by the [[Board of Supervisors]] in August 2013 after an outcry from southern residents of the county. $2.9 million in funding for the project was granted to the county from the Virginia attorney general's office.<ref>{{cite-progress-bh|title=State gift will go a long way toward police firing range|url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/state-gift-will-go-a-long-way-toward-police-firing/article_6b68f882-6b56-11e3-9d11-001a4bcf6878.html|author=J. Reynolds Hutchins|pageno=|printdate=December 22, 2013|publishdate=December 22, 2013|accessdate=December 30, 2013}}</ref> Neighbors and the [[Piedmont Environmental Council]] were opposed to the [[Keene]] site because it was in the county's rural area.<ref>{{cite-progress|title=City, county reiterate support of Keene shooting range|url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/article_f6bb6622-2b8d-11e2-a497-0019bb30f31a.html|author=Aaron Richardson|pageno=|printdate=November 10, 2012|publishdate=November 10, 2012|accessdate=November 29, 2012|cturl=}}</ref>

On April 6, 2021, [[Albemarle County]] published notice of their intent to award a contract for lead abatement at the Regional Firearms Training Center to Waco, Inc. This award followed an invitation for bids issued on February 15, 2021, with a scope of services that included periodic cleaning of the firing range and supporting areas. The invitation for bids stated that the contractor would provide documentation concerning the disposal of the fired bullets and other lead-tainted waste materials removed from the building.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lead Abatement Services: Regional Firearms Training Center, RFP Number 2021-059-IFB-03313|url=https://www.albemarle.org/Home/Components/RFP/RFP/213/|author=Albemarle County|publisher=Albemarle County|publishdate=April 6, 2021|accessdate=August 13, 2021}}</ref>

==References==
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[[Category: Public safety]]