NEWS RELEASE 2000-35
June 7, 2000

Air Force to Host Meeting of Ashumet Pond Nutrients Advisory Group

MASSACHUSETTS MILITARY RESERVATION (MMR), Cape Cod, Mass. — Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence (AFCEE) officials will host a meeting of the Ashumet Pond Nutrients Advisory Group (APNAG) on June 15, 2000. The purpose of the APNAG is to provide comments and advice on proposed AFCEE actions for reducing phosphorus inputs to Ashumet Pond from the former MMR wastewater treatment plant. Nutrients, including nitrogen and phosphorus, are used by living things to promote biological growth. However, if ponds are over-enriched with nutrients, excessive growth of algae may occur.

Group members include local, state, and federal regulators; neighborhood residents, and anyone else interested in phosphorus and its effect on Ashumet Pond. Currently, AFCEE is recommending short-term actions this Fall to reduce available phosphorus within the pond, testing of a technology to provide additional reductions in phosphorus located in soils near the pond, and on-going monitoring. Details of these proposed actions and similar case studies will be presented at this meeting.

Ashumet Pond Nutrients Advisory Group Meeting
June 15, 2000
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Barnstable County Fairgrounds
Administration Building
Route 151
Falmouth, MA

Anyone not able to attend the meeting may obtain further information by contacting Mr. Douglas Karson, AFCEE/MMR Community Involvement Specialist, at (508) 968-4678, extension 2 or by E-mail at doug.karson@mmr.brooks.af.mil.

For more information, please contact Mr. Douglas Karson, AFCEE/MMR Community Involvement Specialist, at (508) 968-4678, extension 2; Fax (508) 968-4673; or E-mail doug.karson@mmr.brooks.af.mil