Frequently Asked Questions

The following questions and answers pertain to soil and groundwater contamination conditions and issues related to the Massachusetts Military Reservation Installation Restoration Program only. They do not cover situations that may exist off base that are not related to the military.

Subject Areas:

General
Public Health, Risk
Private Wells and Hookups
Real Estate

General Questions

Q: What kinds of chemicals do you routinely check for in the groundwater? What do you find?

A: AFCEE tests groundwater for over 50 chemicals that fall within the basic categories of fuels and solvents. Ethylene dibromide (EDB) is an additive to fuel and AFCEE also tests for this compound. For solvents, we test for things such as tetrachloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), and carbon tetrachloride (CCi4). AFCEE also tests for explosive-related compounds at several sites. With over 8,000 test wells installed and many more sample results, AFCEE has defined significant areas of groundwater contamination containing these chemicals above levels that are considered safe under state and federal drinking water guidelines. For more information, please see Groundwater Plumes map and chemical fact sheets. Please note that the Army National Guard performs explosives sampling and analysis of a much larger area of the MMR under its Impact Area Groundwater Study Program.

Q: How may I get information on monitoring wells in my neighborhood or on my property?

A: There are two types of monitoring wells that AFCEE has installed. The first is a well consisting of a metal pipe approximately 4-6 inches in diameter, sticking up above ground 3-4 feet, with a cap and padlock. The second is a flush mount well that consists of a round metal disk approximately 8 inches in diameter, surrounded by a few inches of concrete in a circular or square pattern and level with the ground surface. All monitoring well data is considered public information. Homeowners or residents who are interested in information collected from a monitoring well or wells installed by AFCEE on or near their property may request summaries of test data. Homeowners or residents should copy the identification number off the well cover and call the AFCEE Community Involvement Office at 508-968-4678, extension 2 to request the summary information. The identification number usually contains the two letters "MW" and several numbers before and/or after "MW." If you are unsure if a monitoring well or wells exist on or near your property you can call the AFCEE Community Involvement Office with your address and wells in your immediate area can be identified from the AFCEE database of well information.

Q: I have a monitoring well on my property that belongs to AFCEE. If AFCEE, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Mass. Department of Environmental Protection determine that they no longer need it for sampling can it be given to me so that I can use it for my own purposes?

A: No. AFCEE policy is to fill all decommissioned monitoring wells (wells no longer needed) and then cut them below ground surface. The only exception is if a municipality requests that a monitoring well be transferred to it for the sole purpose of groundwater monitoring that it wishes to assume.

Q: When will the groundwater and soil be cleaned up?

A: There are groundwater cleanup systems operating on six plumes, extracting and cleaning over 11 million gallons a day of contaminated water from both on and off the MMR. Four more groundwater cleanup systems are to be built during the next four years. Some systems are expected to operate for less than ten years, but several will need to be operated for 25-30 years in order to restore the groundwater aquifer. Two plumes are still under investigation. Most of the soil cleanup has been finished and scheduled for completion in 2005. The Impact Area Groundwater Study Program is conducting additional groundwater and soil cleanup work for the northern part of the base.

Q: How much does the cleanup program cost?

A: Over $525 million has been spent to date on investigation and cleanup of Installation Restoration Program sites. The estimated total cost to complete the cleanup project is $925 million. Estimated total cost includes operation of all groundwater cleanup systems for 10 to 30 years.

Q: How may I get copies of plume maps?

A: Maps may be requested by calling the Community Involvement Office at 508-968-4678. You also may access certain maps on this web site.

Q: How may I become more involved in base issues?

A. There are citizen advisory teams that meet periodically to discuss MMR contamination issues. For more information, contact the AFCEE community involvement office at 508-968-4678 x2 or the Environmental and Readiness Center at 508-968-5143. You also may add your name and address to the site mailing list to receive periodic written updates on the program by using this web site's comment form.

Q: How may I arrange for a base tour or for a speaker to come to my class or civic organization?

A: Tours and speakers are provided to area schools, civic groups, etc., free of charge and provide an opportunity to share information and see the progress of the cleanup program. For more information, please call 508-968-4678, extension 2, or see Speaking Engagements and Tours.

Q: Who should I contact for information about environmental cleanup employment opportunities at the base?

A: For government employment opportunities, please contact the Office of Personnel Management Web site at http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/a.htm. Employment information is also available on contractors providing service on the base.

Public Health, Risk

Q: May I safely swim, wade, or boat in waters at or near the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR)?

A: Yes. See Massachusetts. Dept of Public Health Fact Sheet "Recreational Use of Water Bodies On Or Near the Massachusetts Military Reservation, June 2006."

Q: May I safely fish in waters at or near the MMR?

A: Yes, with some exceptions due to mercury contamination. See Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health Fact Sheet "Recreational Use of Water Bodies On Or Near the Massachusetts Military Reservation, June 2006."

Q: Is it safe to eat food grown in soil on or near the base?

A: Yes. Shallow soil contamination that might affect the root zone of plants in a garden is restricted to property within the base boundary and is located in controlled areas. In most cases, contaminated soils have been removed and cleaned. For residents on the MMR, no contaminated soils are located within the U.S. Coast Guard housing area. It should be noted that most groundwater plumes from the MMR are located deep below ground surface.

Q: Are the groundwater plumes from the base causing the elevated cancer levels on Cape Cod? Is there any evidence linking the elevated Upper Cape cancer rates to the activities associated with the MMR?

A: Numerous studies have been conducted going back to an initial Boston University Upper Cape Cancer Incidence Study in 1991. All studies have been inconclusive in explaining a direct link to elevated cancer rates and hazardous waste conditions known to exist on or from the MMR. For more information on these studies and other public health information related to MMR, please contact the Environmental Public Health Center at (508) 968-4323, or visit the Massachusetts Department of Public Health or the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry web sites. You also may contact local boards of health. Related link.

Q: Is water from my private well safe to drink?

A: AFCEE tested over 300 private wells in the towns of Falmouth, Mashpee, Sandwich, and Bourne twice a year from 1995 to 2000. In some cases more frequent testing has been conducted. In 2001 and 2002 the total number of homes being tested has been diminished due to AFCEE paying for municipal water supply conversions for many of the wells in the testing program. The number is now less than 50.. The tested wells have been located over and in close proximity to the MMR groundwater plumes. The tests demonstrate that the water has been safe to use for all purposes. A reason for this is that the plumes are relatively deep compared to the shallow private residential wells. It should be noted that although MMR plumes may threaten area private wells, non-base factors, such as fuel/oil leaks, improper disposal of materials into septic systems, proximity to town landfills, gasoline stations, etc., also may affect private wells. It is recommended that residents test their private well water periodically to be assured of its safety. In some cases, AFCEE will offer private well testing free of charge. For more information, please see MassDEP Good Neighbor Policy, EPA Community Relief Policy, and IRP's Residential Well Sampling Program.

Q: Am I being exposed to pollution in a drinking water supply?

A: If contamination exists in your water supply you can be exposed by three ways:

Drinking water that is contaminated
Bathing/showering/swimming in contaminated water that may result in inhalation of contaminants
Dermal (skin) absorption resulting from bathing/showering/swimming in contaminated water

Private Wells and Hookups

Q: Will AFCEE test my private well water?

Once the appropriate agencies have reviewed all available information on a situation, one or more of the following response actions may be implemented, paid entirely by AFCEE.

1. Provision of bottled water.

2. Immediate collection of private drinking water supply well samples for expedited analysis.

3. Testing of private wells at pre-determined intervals (such as biweekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly).

4. Retesting of private wells in an expedited time frame to verify a result.

5. Replacement of a private well with municipal water supplies (connection only, water use paid by homeowner once connected).

6. Provision of domestic water treatment at residence.

In order to be considered for private well testing your well must be over or near a groundwater plume and your private well must be your only source of drinking water. For more information, please see and IRP's Residential Well Sampling Program.

Q: I'm buying a house near the base and would like copies of any private well test results the base may have on the property. Are these results available to me and how may I get a copy?

A: AFCEE’s policy is to release private well data only to the current homeowner. If you do not own the home (for example, if you are a potential home buyer or renting) you may request that information from the homeowner. You also may contact the local board of health as they regulate private wells. AFCEE provides data summaries of private wells to the local boards of health in the towns of Falmouth, Mashpee, Sandwich, and Bourne on an annual basis.

Q: I'm buying a house near the base and the bank requires a test of the private well. Will AFCEE pay for the test?

A: In cases where MMR contaminant plumes are flowing underneath or near homes AFCEE may offer free private well testing. AFCEE’s policy is that all decisions to offer free private well testing will be made after consultation with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In order to be considered for private well testing your well must be over or near a groundwater plume and your private well must be your only source of drinking water. For more information, please see and IRP's Residential Well Sampling Program.

Real Estate

Q: Should I buy a house near the base or an MMR groundwater plume?

A: Many factors are involved when deciding the location where one will purchase a home. Factors such as aircraft noise, small arms firing, vehicle traffic, or the status of the base's cleanup programs might influence public perception and thus potentially affect property value. AFCEE is not aware of any formal study that has been conducted on property values and proximity to the MMR. (Please see MassDEP Good Neighbor Policy and EPA Community Relief Policy). For homes located over or near a groundwater plume, AFCEE has offered free private well testing. In some cases, free municipal water supply connections were provided. Contact the AFCEE community involvement office at (508) 968-4678, extension 2 for information on private well testing and eligibility.

Q: How may I get reimbursed for lost business or property value that I feel is due to contamination from the base?

A: The federal government offers a means for citizens to file a claim in cases in which they feel that damage, injury, or death has resulted from the action of a federal government agency. This falls under the Federal Tort Claims Act. A Standard Form 95 Claim for Damage, Injury or Death may be filed. The Act specifies that negligent acts or omissions of government employees must be present to be eligible for consideration. For more information, please see the Federal Tort Claims Act fact sheet.

Q: I'm buying a house near the base and would like copies of any private well test results the base may have on the property. Are these results available to me and how may I get a copy?

Q: I'm buying a house near the base and the bank requires a test of the private well. Will AFCEE pay for the test?

A: AFCEE may test a private well in cases where contaminant plumes are flowing underneath or near homes. AFCEE’s policy is that all decisions to offer free private well testing will be made after consultation with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In order to be considered for private well testing your well must be over or near a groundwater plume and your private well must be your only source of drinking water. For more information, please see and IRP's Residential Well Sampling Program