Dear Acceptance Group Member:

Enclosed please find a fact sheet, decision matrix, and responsiveness summary for the alternative selected to clean up the Storm Drain 5 (SD-5) South plume which emanates from the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR).

I am pleased to inform you that, after careful consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of each plume response alternative and comments received during the public comment period, the remedial project managers (RPMs) from the Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence (AFCEE), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) agreed, by consensus, that Alternative E best balances the decision criteria. The selected alternative is described in the enclosed fact sheet.

This choice was based upon consideration of 13 comments which were received during the public comment period, held from September 16 through November 21. The decision was also based on technical feasibility and regulatory requirements. Responses to the comments were developed jointly by the RPMs and are provided in the responsiveness summary, which is enclosed.

Many different opportunities were provided for the community to learn about the plume and the options under consideration, and to express their preferences and concerns. These included:

• Fact sheets and public documents, distributed to those on the site mailing list, property owners in the affected neighborhood, and members of citizen teams (approximately 3000 people)
• Display ads in local newspapers
• News releases and advisories
• Public meetings and neighborhood sessions
• Posterboard sessions which presented maps and descriptions of the alternatives and the disadvantages and advantages of each
• Neighborhood mailing of flyers announcing all meetings and neighborhood sessions
• Appearances on local cable access television shows
• Presentations at citizen advisory team meetings

The Air Force believes that enhanced community involvement, as well as a greater public understanding of the cleanup process, will result in better solutions to the environmental problems at MMR. By involving the public in the very beginning and throughout the decision-making process, a response alternative that is most acceptable to the public, the regulatory agencies, and the Air Force, can be chosen.

Now that the remedial project managers have recommended an alternative, the Air Force will send an official letter to the EPA stating the selected alternative. A draft execution plan is due on February 2, 1998. The enforceable milestone for full-scale system startup is June 22, 1999.

If you have any questions, please contact the IRP Community Involvement Office at (508) 968-4678.

Sincerely,

JIM F. SNYDER

Remediation Program Manager

Attachments:

1. SD-5 South Decision Fact Sheet
2. Decision Matrix
3. SD-5 South Responsiveness Summary