MMR/IRP History Portions of MMR have been used for military purposes since 1911. Since 1935, the base has been used for Army training and maneuvers, military aircraft operations, maintenance, and support. Units currently operating at MMR include the following:
The industrial area has been the most actively used part of MMR. During World War II, Army operations in this area included numerous motor pools, where activities such as vehicle repairs, parts cleaning, oil changes, body work, and repainting were performed. Between 1955 and 1972, Air Force operations included the use of petroleum products and other hazardous materials such as fuels, motor oils, and cleaning solvents and the generation of associated wastes. Consistent with practices of other industries at the time, it was common practice for many years at MMR to dispose of such wastes in landfills, drywells, sumps, and the sewage treatment plant. Spills and leaks also occurred. These activities have resulted in serious impacts to the Upper Cape’s groundwater resources. Chronology of Site History 1930s – The base was established. 1940–46 – The U.S. Army built and operated Camp Edwards on MMR. 1955–72 – The U.S. Air Force operated Otis Air Force Base on MMR. 1973 – The Massachusetts Governor appointed the Otis Task Force to oversee a phase-down of military activities at MMR. The major concern of Cape residents was the fate of base property and impacts on the local economy as military activities decreased. 1978 – The Town of Falmouth detected detergents in a town drinking water supply well, known as "Ashumet Well #1," located about 7,500 feet south of the MMR wastewater treatment plant. When the source was traced back to MMR, Ashumet Valley Property Owners, Inc. and Town of Falmouth officials asked that the military reimburse the Town of Falmouth for replacing the lost water supply. 1979 – The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Quality Engineering (now MADEP) ordered the use of the Falmouth well discontinued and provided bottled water. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), through a grant from MADEP, investigated the aquifer at the Otis Air Force Base Sewage Treatment Plant. USGS identified a groundwater plume moving from the MMR wastewater treatment plant and extending into the Ashumet Valley area of Falmouth, affecting the town’s well. 1982 – ANG initiated the IRP at the Otis ANG Base to identify and evaluate potentially contaminated sites on the base. At the onset, activities included a historical records review. This was later followed by an initial site investigation, including installation of groundwater monitoring wells and the collection and analysis of groundwater, soil, surface water, and sediment samples. 1983 – When many Cape residents expressed concern about the extent of contamination, MMR officials began to meet informally with municipal officials to provide information about site activities and water supply issues. The military also presented IRP status updates to the Otis Task Force. 1984 – Congress created the Defense Environmental Restoration Account (DERA) to fund cleanup activities at active Department of Defense facilities. The Massachusetts National Guard proposed a "Master Plan" to upgrade Camp Edwards’ facilities. In response, citizen groups became increasingly vocal about environmental and health risks posed by MMR activities and questioned ongoing waste management practices at MMR. The governor of Massachusetts reappointed the Otis Task Force to monitor and advise the governor’s office regarding MMR activities. The Town of Falmouth received a state grant to study and clean up the contaminated water supply. 1985 – ANG began an on- and off-base residential drinking water well testing program. ANG and the Air Force have subsequently worked with the towns of Falmouth, Sandwich, Bourne, and Mashpee to test residential water sources and place residences on municipal water supplies or supply bottled water if private wells are found to be contaminated or potentially threatened by contamination. The military conducted testing that confirmed the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are found in solvents and fuels, in one of two base wells and in some of the private wells in the Ashumet Valley area of Falmouth. ANG closed the affected base well known as "G well," which had served the majority of base residents, and continued to use the other base well, called the "J well," which was providing safe water. The Town of Falmouth notified residents of Ashumet Valley and Hayway Road of the possibility that private wells in the area of the Ashumet Valley plume may not be potable. Between 1982 and 1985, the IRP identified 73 areas of concern and recommended 21 sites be investigated first. 1986 – MADEP became actively involved in the IRP and met regularly with the National Guard Bureau (NGB) to evaluate site investigation reports. ANG expanded the IRP to include investigations of additional areas of MMR. The first monetary settlement with the Town of Falmouth was reached with the federal government for town water hookups to potentially affected residential private wells in Ashumet Valley. NGB organized the Technical Environmental Affairs Committee (TEAC), an advisory team, to provide a forum for public input on MMR remedial response activities. The TEAC was a policy-oriented forum that was chaired by the NGB and included representatives from the towns of Falmouth, Bourne, Mashpee, and Sandwich; community groups; military organizations; and regulatory agencies. The TEAC met every two months. Its meetings remained closed to the public until 1992. NGB developed a Community Relations Plan, designated a local MMR contact person to provide information, and set up a telephone line that people could call to obtain information about the IRP. NGB also set up information repositories in the main public libraries of the four surrounding towns and the on-base U.S. Coast Guard Library. 1987 – Site investigations were conducted initially at 21 areas of concern. Contaminants detected included VOCs, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs), and waste oils and metals. MADEP issued a Notice of Responsibility to ANG, requiring ANG to conduct the assessment and remediation at the base in compliance with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ regulations. Private water wells in Mashpee’s Briarwood section, Horseshoe Bend Way, and Tri-Town Circle and the public water supply well on MMR known as the "J well" were found to be contaminated with VOCs. 1988 – Regulations to implement the state Superfund law under the Massachusetts Contingency Plan were enacted. The Massachusetts Contingency Plan also provided for increased opportunity for public involvement. MADEP requested that NGB provide bottled water to all Briarwood residents and arrange for municipal connections. At the time the ANG policy would provide water only to affected homes with detections greater than maximum contaminant levels. MADEP provided bottled water until homes were connected to municipal water supplies. 1989 – Upon receipt of a petition from the Upper Cape Concerned Citizens group requesting that MADEP prepare a plan for involving the public in decisions regarding cleanup activities at MMR, MADEP designated MMR as a Public Involvement Plan site. Under MADEP regulations, designation as a Public Involvement Plan site requires the completion of a plan to inform and involve the public about decisions regarding cleanup activities. EPA added MMR to the National Priorities List making it a Superfund site, and EPA assumed the role of lead environmental regulatory agency. Superfund required the development of a Community Relations Plan—now referred to as a Community Involvement Plan (CIP). Therefore, NGB, EPA, and MADEP began to work together to develop a joint CIP. In response to a lawsuit brought forth by the Conservation Law Foundation of New England, the Unified Environmental Planning Office was established to meet the needs of residents, local officials, and community group members for environmental information about MMR from a single, coordinated source. 1990 – ANG established an on-site IRP office to manage the program locally. The Town of Sandwich discovered fuel oil contamination in Forestdale. Several groundwater plumes were identified—Ashumet Valley, CS-4, CS-10, Eastern Briarwood, FS-1, LF-1, SD-5, and Western Aquafarm. 1991 – Community interviews were conducted to gather input for the first CIP. Based on communication concerns expressed by citizens, ANG designated a local MMR contact person to provide site information to the public. In May, the CIP was presented and implemented. A Federal Facility Agreement (FFA) between the Air Force, NGB, U.S. Coast Guard, and EPA was signed in July. The FFA, a legally binding document, is designed to ensure that environmental impacts are investigated thoroughly and that appropriate actions are taken to protect human health and the environment. The FFA provides a framework for EPA oversight of the MMR IRP investigation and cleanup and identifies a schedule for cleanup activities. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts chose not to sign the FFA because of the cleanup timetables and to reserve the Commonwealth’s enforcement rights. A Defense State Memorandum of Agreement (DSMOA), a cooperative agreement between the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, was issued to provide funding for state regulatory oversight. The DSMOA is a national program that provides DoD funding to states to ensure DoD compliance with state environmental laws and regulations. In June, an engineering evaluation/cost analysis was conducted to outline ANG’s intention to excavate and thermally clean soils from several areas of concern. The Ashumet/Johns Ponds Task Force was formed—including local scientific experts, residents, and regulatory officials—and made recommendations to the military for studies of the two nearby recreational ponds threatened by groundwater plumes. ANG subsequently funded over $3million in studies related to the ponds. The FS-12 Sandwich Subcommittee was formed by the TEAC to track the progress of investigation and remediation for the FS-12 source and groundwater plume. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) established a Community Assistance Panel (CAP) to involve the community in ATSDR’s evaluation of possible public health impacts from environmental contamination at MMR. 1992 – The first MMR record of decision (interim) was signed for the Chemical Spill 4 (CS-4) groundwater plume containment project. ANG also released a proposed plan to the public outlining its proposed remedy to construct a multilayer capping system for 60 acres of the main base landfill (LF-1), the source of the LF-1 groundwater plume. The TEAC’s meetings were opened to the public. The Ashumet Valley Property Owners, Inc., applied for and received a $50,000 technical assistance grant from EPA. 1993 – An aggressive groundwater plume containment goal was set for MMR. From 1993 to 1996, ANG—in concert with EPA, MADEP, and community groups—worked toward a 100 percent, simultaneous solution to the groundwater plumes. An interim record of decision was signed for three sections of main base landfill (LF-1) in February 1993, and construction of the landfill cap began later that same year. The CS-4 groundwater treatment system was installed and began operation. Several community advisory teams were developed as described below.
1994 – The Plume Response Plan was issued, presenting a plan to simultaneously contain seven groundwater plumes. The IRP began to treat contaminated soil at several source areas, including CS-4. 1995 – ANG initiated an air sparging and soil vapor extraction system to remove fuel from the FS-12 source area. Soil treatment at the former firefighter training area 1 (FTA-1) began. The cap for the main base landfill (LF-1) was completed in September 1995. It involved covering 60 acres, which were contributing solvents to the LF-1 groundwater plume as rainwater washed through the landfill. An interim record of decision was signed for seven groundwater plumes—Ashumet Valley, CS-10, Eastern Briarwood, FS-12, LF-1, SD-5, and Western Aquafarm. It was decided that all but two of the plumes would be remediated. Eastern Briarwood and Western Aquafarm would undergo long-term monitoring. The design for full containment of the groundwater plumes began. A fourth team, the Program Implementation Team—later renamed Public Information Team (PIT)—emerged out of the Plume Containment Team and was tasked to help convey information to the general public about IRP environmental initiatives and property access issues. The team was created as a separate entity to focus on public involvement. Independent of the IRP, the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates established the Barnstable County Scientific Advisory Panel to examine a variety of ecological and hydrological issues related to MMR pollution. The Enemy Within: The Struggle to Clean Up Cape Cod’s Military Superfund Site was published by the Association for the Preservation of Cape Cod (APCC). This book was written by Seth Rolbein and was partially funded by a MADEP $10,000 technical assistance grant to APCC. It details the military and environmental history of MMR and the surrounding area. MADEP provided a $10,000 technical assistance grant to the Town of Sandwich for assistance in reviewing FS-12 technical documents. 1996 –The design for full containment was 60 percent completed. An evaluation of the design determined that the simultaneous containment of the plumes could not be accomplished without adversely affecting the ecosystem on the Upper Cape. The design was deemed environmentally unacceptable. In May, Amendment No. 1 of the FFA was signed that designated AFCEE as the lead agent for the IRP. The IRP program management responsibility was transferred to AFCEE, bringing a change in management and additional contracting resources and funding to MMR. In July, within weeks of AFCEE’s arrival, a strategic plan was developed, outlining the steps and aggressive schedule to accomplish the MMR cleanup. A remedial action contract was awarded, two full-time community involvement positions were created, and three technical people were hired. This MMR IRP web site was created, giving the public ready access to information about planned and ongoing cleanup activities. Over 60 public meetings were held. Strategies for more extensive community outreach and risk communication were developed. Soil treatment at FTA-1 resulted in over 9,000 tons of soil being cleaned. One hundred and six underground drainage structures containing contaminated liquid and sediments were removed. Over 30,000 linear feet of drilling for monitoring, extraction, and reinjection wells were completed for construction of FS-12 groundwater treatment system and various investigations. A pilot project began in two areas of the CS-10 plume, testing the effectiveness of two types of recirculating well technology. Ethylene dibromide (EDB) from the FS-28 groundwater plume was found upwelling in the Coonamessett River in Falmouth. A carbon filtration unit for a municipal water supply well in the Town of Falmouth started operation on schedule in July 1996. The unit has successfully provided a clean water supply from that well. To eliminate potential risks from contaminated plumes, over 50 homes in Mashpee were converted from private wells to municipal water supply at federal government expense. Over 2,000 water samples were tested from monitoring wells and area residential wells. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts published the Good Neighbor Policy to address public concern regarding property values being affected by plumes. The policy stated that the Commonwealth would not hold owners of land located over the groundwater plumes financially responsible for the cleanup of the plumes. EPA later followed with a similar document for the Upper Cape communities entitled the Community Relief Policy. A Peer Review Team—including representatives from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, EPA, NGB, Cape Cod Commission, four surrounding towns, and USGS—was formed to review the 60 percent remedial design, investigate other alternatives, identify criteria, and analyze impacts on the environment. For the teams to share information, the Process Action Teams began to meet together as the Joint Process Action Team (JPAT). A Technical Review and Evaluation Team (TRET) also was established to evaluate the issues raised by the 60 percent design plan and to evaluate viable options for plume containment. Members of the TRET represented the Air Force, Army, EPA, MADEP, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, and USGS. The Peer Review Team and TRET reviewed and advised on the technical aspects of plans and regularly presented their findings to the public, Remedial Project Managers, Process Action Teams, and SMB for review. In May, TRET recommended a phased approach to address the plumes. EPA awarded a technical assistance grant for $50,000 to the Association for the Preservation of Cape Cod to assist the public in understanding and commenting on cleanup-related information and participating in cleanup decisions at MMR. An Environmental Technology Center (Enviro-Tech Center) was established on MMR. 1997 – A six-day series of articles entitled "Broken Trust" was published by the Cape Cod Times in January. The articles discussed the mismanagement and other problems associated with the MMR cleanup. The Plume Response Decision Criteria Matrix process was developed and implemented as an innovative approach for efficiently comparing and selecting alternatives for remediating groundwater plumes in an expedited manner. Developed cooperatively by the IRP, EPA, and MADEP, the matrix process was designed to involve the public in selecting a plume response alternative that would be acceptable to the IRP, regulatory agencies, and the public. In a fact-sheet format, remedial alternatives were compared using a table to more easily assess the advantages and disadvantages of each. Using the decision criteria matrix process, cleanup methods were selected with enforceable milestones for four groundwater plumes—Ashumet Valley, CS-10, SD-5 South, and LF-1. Construction was completed and operations began for extraction, treatment, and reinjection (ETR) systems for SD-5 North and FS-12 groundwater plumes. A time-critical removal action was initiated to install a groundwater extraction well and treatment facility to capture the FS-28 plume of EDB at a high-concentration area, preventing upwelling into the Coonamessett River system. Phase I, a portion of the ecological baseline activities, began in an effort to characterize area conditions prior to the construction and operation of treatment systems for the plumes. (To date, over 1,800 surface water, sediment, biologic resources, and groundwater samples have been analyzed as part of that program.) Forty new groundwater monitoring wells were installed to better define another EDB plume known as FS-1, which was found to be upwelling in the Quashnet River in Mashpee. The recirculating well pilot tests continued. A decision was later made to keep the pilot systems for the CS-10 solvent plume online until the spring of 1999, when a full-scale ETR system became operational to address part of that plume. The IRP also completed the soil treatment project at FTA-1 source area, bringing the total amount of soil cleaned up to 42,000 tons. In May, a schedule containing the enforceable dates pertaining to plume response actions—the cleanup of contaminated groundwater at and originating from MMR—was added to the FFA as Appendix III, Timetable 3. The IRP agreed to do more than 90 additional hookups to municipal water supplies in the Hatchville neighborhood of Falmouth. These homes were hooked up in 1997 and 1998. Community involvement activities increased in 1997. Over 100 public meetings were conducted with numerous community advisory teams continuing to meet regularly to advise the IRP on remedial activities. The IRP published 33 new and updated fact sheets. Over 100 news releases and notices were issued. More than 500 documents were added to this MMR IRP web site. The senior environmental leaders from the Air Force, Army, NGB, the Adjutant General of Massachusetts and the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Environmental Security established a Joint Program Office (JPO) to coordinate and oversee all environmental management efforts at MMR, replacing the Unified Environmental Planning Office formed in 1989. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH)/ATSDR Environmental Public Health Center was established at MMR. The first annual recreational pond fact sheet was issued and distributed to the site mailing list. 1998 – Investigations focused on the southwest portion of the base (Southwest Operable Unit, SWOU) and off base to further characterize contamination. As a result, three new plumes—CS-20, CS-21, and FS-29—were defined. More studies in and around Ashumet Pond and Johns Pond were conducted to look at possible pond/plume interactions, and a trichloroethylene (TCE) plume located between Ashumet Pond and Johns Pond was identified. More monitoring wells were installed to further characterize FS-1. Data-gathering efforts focused on four known plumes—Ashumet Valley, CS-10, LF-1, and SD-5 South—to better understand the geologic characteristics and the horizontal and vertical extent of groundwater contamination. After treatment alternatives were selected using the decision criteria matrix process, remedial design for these plumes began. The FS-12 source area cleanup was completed, and testing was conducted to confirm that cleanup goals had been achieved. The IRP continued to operate the CS-4, FS-12, SD-5 North, and FS-28 ETR systems and the recirculating wells for the CS-10 plume. The Air Force, with congressional approval, agreed to compensate local cranberry growers and the Towns of Falmouth and Mashpee for lost income from cranberry bogs affected by EDB from base plumes. House Resolution 3579, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, authorized up to $2 million for fiscal year 1998 for the Department of Defense to acquire interest for up to two years in Falmouth and Mashpee cranberry bogs affected by plumes. Two records of decision were issued affecting eight sites. An engineering evaluation/cost analysis was released that related to nine other sites. Two proposed plans for three sites were released. The majority of the decisions and proposals involved asphalt batching where soil contamination is encapsulated in an asphalt emulsion mixture, rendering it immobile. The IRP continued with its private well sampling program in 1998, collecting 605 samples from area homes in the semiannual and biweekly programs. Bottled water was provided to 30 homes in Falmouth as a precaution for residents awaiting town water conversions from a previous agreement. In late 1998, the IRP signed an agreement with the Bourne Water District to provide 16 conversions from private wells to municipal water connections at no cost. Ninety-three public meetings, 13 tours, and 14 speaking engagements were conducted. One hundred and sixty-three newspaper advertisements, 58 news releases, 38 fact sheets, and 28 neighborhood flyers were issued. The Community Guide, which provides an overview of the IRP and a reference for future cleanup activities, was developed with the PIT and distributed. The IRP staff responded to thousands of queries from citizens. Another 336 documents were added to this MMR IRP web site. A second book by Seth Rolbein entitled About Face: Cleanup, conflict, and new directions on Cape Cod was published by the Association for the Preservation of Cape Cod (APCC). This book was partially funded by a $10,000 MADEP technical assistance grant provided to APCC in 1997. MADEP provided another $10,000 technical assistance grant to the Association for the Preservation of Cape Cod for developing a school curriculum about MMR. 1999 – Intensive construction and operation activities for groundwater treatment continued. ETR systems were constructed and began operation ahead of schedule for Ashumet Valley, LF-1, CS-10 Sandwich Road, and CS-10 In-Plume treatment systems. Recirculating well treatment systems were installed underground and began operation to address a portion of the SD-5 South plume. Further studies of Ashumet Pond were conducted to better define the source of the recently discovered TCE plume (later identified as part of the CS-10 plume). Samples were taken to further define any effects from phosphorus in the Ashumet Valley plume. After investigation and planning activities, it was determined that a time-critical removal action would be implemented to address the CS-10 TCE plume and the remainder of the SD-5 South plume. Construction of the ETR system began, with start-up planned for January 2000. Two cranberry bog actions were initiated in January and completed in April to physically separate the river water from the bogs with earthen berms and vinyl sheet piling and thereby prevent continued EDB contamination of the Coonamessett and Quashnet rivers and bogs. These actions resulted in "nondetect" levels of EDB in the Coonamessett River system in Falmouth and greatly diminished surface levels of EDB in the Quashnet River in Mashpee. The IRP installed and started a leading-edge ETR system using deep and shallow groundwater extraction and treatment to reduce potential health risk and eventually restore the bogs to production. A 30-day public comment period was held in June for the proposed plan for the FS-1 source area and groundwater plume. A 60-day public comment period was held for the proposed plan for four Southwest Operable Unit (SWOU) plumes—CS-20, CS-21, CS-4, and FS-13. Decisions were made after formal public comment on 39 source areas. Three records of decision were issued affecting five sites, and one action memorandum was signed. Forty-five off-base residences were connected to town water supplies. As a precaution, a permanent wellhead treatment system was installed on the on-base "J well," which supplies drinking water to MMR. Also, the IRP agreed to fund 100 percent of municipal water hookups for approximately 150 homes in Hatchville, a section of Falmouth. The pilot project for an innovative technology called a reactive wall was completed at CS-10. The Natural Resources Trustee Council (NRTC) was formed to identify injury caused by contamination from MMR. The council will also determine how to restore or replace those injured resources or acquire similar ones. The five trustees and voting members include representatives from the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, U.S. Department of Interior, and U.S. Veterans Affairs. The council is jointly chaired by the U.S. Air Force and Commonwealth of Massachusetts representatives. Nonvoting members include representatives from EPA, MADEP, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (representing the U.S. Department of Commerce), U.S. Department of Justice, and the Massachusetts Attorney General. The council conducts its own community involvement activities. Community involvement activities continued with more fact sheets and meetings. Special events were conducted such as a nine-day hands-on display at a local county fair, a poster board session at a two-day air show, and an environmental fair on base for local school children. 2000 – The ETR treatment system to remove contaminants from the CS-10 TCE plume and portions of the SD-5 South plume began operation in January. The CS-10 South/Southwest ETI system—the fourth treatment system to remove contaminants from portions of the CS-10 groundwater plume—began operation in April. To date, there are 12 groundwater treatment systems operating. The leading edge of the CS-10 plume was further investigated by installing monitoring wells along the southern portion of Hooppole Road and two wells east of Johns Pond. Chemicals related to the CS-10 groundwater plume were detected in wells on Hooppole Road and a trace amount of trichloroethylene (TCE) was detected in one of the wells installed east of Johns Pond. Based on the depth and types of chemicals detected in these wells, the chemicals present are believed to be related to the CS-10 plume. The IRP began further investigation of a portion of the FS-12 plume that was farther west of the defined plume boundary. In conjunction with the investigation, the IRP plans to convert a reinjection well to an extraction well to treat this area. AFCEE entered into an agreement with the Sandwich Board of Health to pay for the cost of sampling the surface water of Snake Pond in Forestdale during the 2000 recreational season. No contaminants were detected in that sampling. The pond is in close proximity to the FS-12 plume. As a result of the existing extraction, treatment, and discharge system currently in place at the leading edge of the FS-28 plume, the Coonamessett cranberry bogs returned to production. Surface water in the Coonamessett River has been free of ethylene dibromide since May 1999. Groundwater samples were collected from beneath Red Brook Harbor by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) during the summer. Chemicals present in the LF-1 plume were detected in these samples at concentrations below drinking water standards, which led USGS scientists to believe that portions of the LF-1 groundwater plume may discharge into the harbor. Decision documents were signed for 13 source areas. The IRP completed remedial design for treating soil at 27 source areas. Records of decision were signed for seven groundwater plumes (CS-4, CS-20, CS-21, FS-13, FS-1, FS-28, and FS-29). The IRP complied with all 10 Federal Facility Agreement (FFA) enforceable milestones in 2000, bringing the total to 248 milestones achieved to date. The IRP continued monitoring municipal and residential water supplies. AFCEE collected and analyzed approximately 800 well-water samples from 350 homes. No detections of contaminants above the maximum contaminant level were found in any residential wells. AFCEE provided 13 homes with bottled water and connected 20 homes to municipal water supplies. AFCEE continued to operate a treatment system for the Town of Falmouth Coonamessett Water Supply Well as a precaution. Four agreements were established to connect approximately 380 more homes in Bourne, Falmouth, Mashpee, and Sandwich. The installation work for those homes is expected to begin in Spring 2001. The Innovative Technologies Team was retired by consensus in the spring. The Ashumet Pond Nutrients Advisory Group (APNAG) was established in May to provide comments and advice on proposed IRP actions for reducing phosphorus inputs to Ashumet Pond from the former MMR wastewater treatment plant. The IRP received a second place award for the IRP community involvement program by the International Association for Public Participation, a nonprofit corporation established to advance the practice of public participation. An update of the Community Involvement Plan was completed and released in July. The plan reflects input from numerous community interviews conducted during 1999. Close to 50 public and community advisory team meetings and 30 posterboard sessions were held, 25 site tours and 15 speaking engagements were conducted, and 60 news releases and 10 fact sheets were issued. The IRP redesigned and reorganized its web site (www.mmr.org), including a more user-friendly design, information categorized by topic (plume, sites, etc.), and making the entire IRP Administrative Record available online. In 2000, there were 40,000 visits to the IRP web site.
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