Contaminated groundwater plumes have migrated beyond the boundary of the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR), and therefore must be cleaned up and/or monitored by the Air Force in areas owned by private individuals or by the public. Installing a groundwater treatment system or monitoring well on non-MMR property involves balancing a complex mix of scientific, engineering, financial and community concerns.

This fact sheet describes how the final location of a typical treatment system is chosen, and how issues related to construction in areas owned by private individuals or by the public are addressed. Town agencies, private individuals, utility companies and homeowner associations are just some of the parties that grant permission to their property for conducting cleanup work. Please refer to the fact sheet, Choosing a Cleanup Plan for IRP Groundwater Treatment Systems, for a description of how multiple concerns are balanced while deciding upon a cleanup plan.

A: After a cleanup plan has been selected and agreed upon by AFCEE, EPA and DEP, a treatment system design is prepared. The treatment system design addresses constraints of installing a treatment system on private or publicly owned land. Property ownership and neighborhood concerns are factors that influence the exact location where parts of a treatment system are installed.

When designing the treatment system, expectations of treatment system performance are based on a set of specific assumptions and data available at that time. The expectations and assumptions, used when preparing the treatment system design, are discussed with EPA, DEP. The expectations and assumptions also are discussed with the public at monthly citizen advisory team meetings while the design is being prepared.

Some of the issues considered while designing a treatment system or selecting a monitoring well location include:

• Location and concentration of the contamination
• Ecological impacts (effects on ponds and rivers)
• EPA and MassDEP consensus on design and location
• Neighborhood impacts
• Access to private or public land where system components may be installed

A: While designing the treatment system, a specific property that will provide the best location to capture and treat the greatest amount of the plume is identified. This allows the cleanup to be conducted in the shortest time possible and with minimum disruption to nearby neighbors. Monitoring wells need to be installed for a numerous reasons; to monitoring groundwater after it’s treated or to monitor impacts to the groundwater aquifer from pumping wells, etc. The optimal location for a monitoring well is first selected and then property ownership is evaluated. The property owner is approached to determine his or her willingness to allow access in order to construct wells, lay pipe or build a treatment plant.

A: AFCEE makes every attempt to work with landowners to address their concerns, make adjustments if possible, and mitigate any impacts. Hopefully, all concerns are addressed prior to completing a treatment system design and beginning construction. If you have any questions or concerns about treatment system or monitoring well locations, please contact the Community Involvement Office at (508) 968-4670.

A: AFCEE works with the appropriate town selectmen, department of public works, police and fire departments to address their concerns prior to construction. Traffic or school bus route changes are coordinated with police and school bus companies. A police detail is used to ensure traffic safety when major construction occurs. Working during business hours minimizes noise generated during construction when many people are not at home. Generally, dust is controlled by using water to keep the dust from becoming airborne. Neighborhood notices are issued routinely to make residents aware of construction plans so people can choose not to be home while construction work is being performed.

A: AFCEE makes every attempt to locate wells or treatment systems in semi-remote locations where equipment used in construction and maintenance is not readily accessible to the public. Residents are protected from exposure to groundwater contamination during the construction of a treatment system by prevention of access to construction areas. For example, when a drill rig is used to install a groundwater monitoring well or extraction well, an orange-netted fence is set up around the area of the drill rig. This fence prevents residents from accessing areas where exposure to contaminated soils or groundwater could occur. This fence also prevents residents from access to an operating drill rig, reducing the potential for personal injury. When completed, wells or treatment systems are locked to prevent access, therefore eliminating potential exposure to residents from contaminated groundwater.

If a monitoring well is constructed on private property, residents are protected from exposure to groundwater by a locking cap that fits tightly into the top of the well. This cap prevents water from exiting (by pumping) or entering the well.

A: Restoration work for your property must be discussed with you prior to signing a right-of-entry agreement, which allows legal access to your property. Your property will be restored to conditions that existed before construction began. If you are not satisfied with restoration work performed on your property or at other IRP construction sites, please contact the Community Involvement Office at (508) 968-4670.

A: There may be ecological impacts from constructing and operating a treatment system. Tree clearing may be needed to build treatment system buildings, roads, wells, or pipelines. Potential construction areas are surveyed prior to any construction activity to ensure that the habitat of threatened or endangered species is not destroyed. When laying pipe, open areas and existing roadways are used as much as possible. When construction activities have been completed, disturbed areas are seeded, trees are replanted, and disturbed roads are re-paved as part of final site restoration.

Treatment system designs reflect an attempt to minimize ecological impacts while effectively capturing and treating contaminated groundwater. Treatment system and ecological monitoring programs are in place to measure and assess potential changes in water levels and water quality associated with the long term operating conditions of a treatment system.

A: Maps and fact sheets that describe groundwater plumes originating from the MMR and cleanup plans are available. Other fact sheets produced by AFCEE, EPA and MassDEP include Real Estate Issues Explained, Access to Property, Homeowners Exempt From Superfund Cleanup Costs, and the Massachusetts Good Neighbor Policy. These and other important informational items are available from the main libraries in Bourne, Falmouth, Mashpee and Sandwich, the US Coast Guard library at MMR, and the IRP office at MMR. Information can also be obtained by visiting the MMR website at www.mmr.org.