Mr. Minior reported that the Fuel Spill 1 (FS-1) plume emanates from the base and travels to the Quashnet cranberry bog area. He displayed a close-up map of the Quashnet bogs and pointed out the locations of the FS-1 plume, the existing extraction well, the treatment facility, the pump house, and some of the sampling locations.

Mr. Minior reported that the Quashnet River bog pilot test resulted in a number of impacts. He noted that the reorientation of the pumphouse required additional tree cutting, which was mitigated later with additional plantings. He reported that there were several siltation events, one of which resulted in some fish being killed in a ditch. He pointed on the map to the location of the first fish kill. Mr. Minior also reported that there were some road washouts into the K1 bog area, from the east side near the treatment plant.

Mr. Minior reported that the most serious issue related to the Quashnet River and bog pilot test was the subsidence of the berm in the K6 bog, as it was built up to the necessary height. In June 1999, the subsidence changed the channel flow pattern and there were stagnant areas near the berm. He stated that AFCEE, working with the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MDFW) and the Mashpee Conservation Commission, tried to eliminate any potential stagnant areas where the fish might enter and become trapped, and a sluice way was installed. Mr. Minior displayed a photograph of the area where the subsidence occurred. He pointed out the decrease in elevation in this area and explained that the peat layer settled, pushed up some of the river bottom, and narrowed the channel where the water was flowing. Mr. Minior displayed another photograph and pointed out the K6 and K5 bogs. He also pointed to the area where the uplift occurred as the berm settled out.

Mr. Minior displayed a photograph and pointed to where a sluice way was installed through the K6 berm in order to allow the fish to migrate through the channels and come back through. He explained that installing the sluice way was necessary, from a fisheries standpoint, to ensure that fish would not get trapped. He then displayed a photograph of the sluice way through the K6 berm and pointed out the area of the subsidence.

Mr. Minior displayed a photograph of the pumphouse that was reoriented. He noted that this photograph shows some of the restoration, including trees that were planted on the slopes that were disturbed during the clearing required for the reorientation of the pumphouse. He stated that it is hoped that the area will return to its natural environment in a couple of years. Mr. Minior displayed a photograph of the road to the pumphouse and pointed to the treatment building located just south of the K1 bog.

Mr. Minior displayed a photograph of the bubbler and the effluent from the treatment plant. He explained that approximately 500 gallons of water per minute (gpm) come out of the bubbler, and pick up oxygen while cascading down into the channel, in what is referred to as the K2 west ditch, which currently is the main fishery habitat.

Mr. Minior displayed a photograph of the treatment plant located near the K1 bog, and pointed to the restoration that occurred along the access road. He stated that a stone ditch was installed to control the runoff and the erosion, and to prevent washouts coming down the road.

Mr. Minior reported that since last April 1999, the surface water levels have been greatly reduced. He noted that the surface water levels are not eliminated in some areas of the bog. Mr. Minior reported that as a result of a detection in the Quashnet bog area, additional investigation was conducted in order to define better the conceptual model of what was transpiring in this area. He noted that there were unexpected detections in the K6 bog. Mr. Minior also reported that the first carbon change-out in the treatment plant occurred in February 2000. He stated that the carbon had lasted for approximately 10 months, which is good for just 20,000 pounds of carbon.

Mr. Minior reported that this past January/February some dead birds were found in the Quashet bog area. He noted that two swans had been shot, as was reported in the newspaper. He stated that the environmental police are investigating the death of those swans and he has not heard anything in terms of the outcome of that investigation. Mr. Minior reported that two other dead birds, an owl and a blue heron, were found with no apparent cause of death. He noted that the Board of Health is working with Tufts University to determine the cause of death of those two birds.

Mr. Minior reported that final site restoration, which involved removing the remaining hay bales and sandbags, has been completed. Mr. Gadd confirmed that site restoration is complete. Mr. Minior reported that access control gates have been installed, and AFCEE and the Town of Mashpee are working on agreements for access control and for minor maintenance in the bog area. He explained that maintenance includes keeping the ditches clear and keeping the invasive growth out of the bogs, in order to keep the fisheries habitat in good order.

Mr. Minior displayed a map of the access control gates and barriers that have been installed. He also pointed on the map to an existing barrier. He explained that the intent of this map is to show how AFCEE, working with the Mashpee Conservation Commission, is trying to control access into the Quashnet bog area. He then displayed a photograph of one of the access control gates, and noted that the gates are locked, and appropriate people have the keys to open the gates.

Mr. Minior reported that a lot of surface water sampling has been conducted since this project went on line in April 1999. He noted that the last pages of the handout he distributed include a set of tables that show the sampling locations, and the date and result of the samples. He noted that the samples were for ethylene dibromide (EDB) and have been only a few detections since this project began. Mr. Minior pointed on the map to areas of EDB detections, and mentioned sampling location 4188 in the K6 bog, where EDB was detected in the surface waters. He added that in August 2000, there was a detection of EDB at sampling location 36SW0001, which is located at the outlet of the K5/K6 bog. He also noted, however, that that location has been non-detect since that time. Mr. Minior reported that the surface water through this area, as it exits and goes down the Quashnet River, has been non-detect since August. He then pointed to an area on the map where there still are detections of EDB.

Mr. Minior pointed on the map to where the Quashnet River exits the abandoned bog area and enters the K3/K4 bog complex, where, in December 1999, there was an EDB detection of 0.009 ppb. He stated that at this time there is no explanation for that detection, and it currently is being evaluated. He noted that this location has been non-detect since the detection in December. Mr. Minior reported that from samples collected on a weekly basis through the months of December and January, there was only one EDB detection, in December.

Mr. Minior reported that in response to the EDB surface water detection at location 4188 in the K6 bog, a snapshot was taken of the water quality of the existing wells. He stated that 13 new wells were installed at five different locations, and drive-points were used to gather subsurface groundwater information. Mr. Minior reported that slug tests also were conducted on eight old wells and eight new wells. These tests were done in order to revise the conceptual model, in terms of the hydrologic criteria that it uses.

Mr. Minior reported that every fifth well-point was sampled in order to determine if EDB was being pulled up into the extraction system. Mr. Minior asked Mr. Gadd if this information is in the second quarter report. Mr. Gadd replied that it will be in the third quarter report. Mr. Minior noted that this information can be provided to interested individuals. He then displayed a map of the Quashnet River bogs monitoring well locations and noted that the data for those existing and new monitoring wells is included on the last page of the handout. He pointed to the existing wells that are sampled on a periodic basis.

Mr. Minior displayed a graphic of the original conceptual model of where the EDB upwells as it enters the Quashnet bog area. He pointed to the K6, K4, K2, and K1 bogs. He also pointed to extraction well 5 (EW-5), whose purpose is to intercept the FS-1 plume before it discharges into the surface water. He explained that shallow well-points were installed in order to extract the plume before it would be released into the surface water. The infiltration trench located on the north side of the K1 bog is intended to push down the contamination, thereby preventing it from upwelling into the K1 bog. Mr. Minior explained that the plume would be pushed down to the extraction well so that it could be captured before it proceeds. If the plume were to have gone over the top of the well screen, it would have been intercepted by the shallow well-points; but it now is being captured by the extraction well.

Mr. Minior displayed a graphic of the FS-1 plume outline. He then displayed a cross section, A-A', of the FS-1 plume before it enters the Quashnet bog complex. He pointed to the K1, K2, and K6 bogs. Mr. Minior pointed to the 0.02 parts per billion (ppb) plume outline, located approximately 40 feet below mean sea level, which is approximately 80 feet below the ground surface in this area. He noted that 0.02 ppb is the drinking water standard.

Mr. Minior reported that the first phase of the Kansas State University (KSU) study is complete and the second phase is ongoing. He stated that, depending on how the plants ripen over the summer, the plan is to harvest the plants coming out of their dormant stage in mid October. Once those cranberries are collected, their various parts will be analyzed from October to April 2000. The report should be available in November 2001, which would be the second year of this undertaking.

Mr. Johansen from the Mashpee Conservation Commission, inquired about the total acreage of the Quashnet bogs. Mr. Gadd replied that there are approximately 28 acres of bogs.

Mr. Fitzsimmons commented that he thinks that Mr. Minior provided a thorough and accurate presentation; however, he would like to see more about next steps and not just what has been accomplished.

Mr. Minior said that he provided an update on the pilot test and the results through the entire second quarter and part of the third quarter. He stated that AFCEE is in the process of finalizing the record of decision (ROD) for the FS-1 plume. Mr. Minior explained that the ROD includes making permanent the pilot test at the toe of the plume, and designing a series of axial wells in the body of the plume. The axial wells would be installed in order to extract the contaminated groundwater from the main body of the plume and to shrink the plume in toward the center. Mr. Minior reported that AFCEE and the regulatory agencies are discussing how long it will take to complete that design, after which time construction can begin.

Mr. Minior stated that he thinks the axial well project construction will begin in approximately 18 months. He noted that the project will include the 17 extraction wells that are included in the FS-1 Proposed Plan, or possibly, fewer wells. The number of wells in the final design will be determined based on the additional information that is gathered as part of the data-gap work. Mr. Minior stated that additional borings will be installed, and approximately 10 monitoring wells will be installed to better understand the cross-sectional area of the plume. He reiterated that this data-gap work will determine the number of wells needed, which he thinks will be fewer than the 17 wells mentioned in the FS-1 Proposed Plan.

Mr. Fitzsimmons remarked that there seems to be a lot more work to be done to clean up the FS-1 plume. He asked if there is a plan being prepared that Mr. Minior can share with the attendees tonight. Mr. Minior replied that he cannot do so at this time. He stated that he can explain the concept that was put forth in the FS-1 Proposed Plan, which is an axial treatment extraction system that would extract approximately one million gallons per day. In terms of what that axial treatment extraction system will look like, Mr. Minior stated that he currently does not know. He did note, however, that an attempt is being made to minimize the amount of land that would be affected by the implementation of the project. An attempt also is being made to site the project in a way that avoids problems with the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) improvement of the approach lighting for the runway. Mr. Minior reported that this lighting project is ongoing, and AFCEE wants to coordinate its efforts in order to reduce the amount of clearing necessary in this area.

Mr. Fitzsimmons asked if, by the next stakeholders’ meeting, Mr. Minior would have a plan for the long-range outlook for AFCEE’s activities. Mr. Minior replied that at the next stakeholders’ meeting he will be able to present a better model of what is happening in the Quashnet bog area, once the additional data is incorporated into the model and the model is refined further. He noted that the next stakeholders’ meeting will occur before he is able to identify the exact number of wells that will be used.

Mr. Fitzsimmons stated that, in the meantime, AFCEE and the Mashpee Conservation Commission will continue to work on the agreement, in terms of continuing this work. He then commented that he thinks that there is now a better sense of communication than what there had been previously. He said that he is gratified that this project is proceeding as it is, and he believes that the communication should continue.

Mr. Johansen questioned whether there is another plume located to the left of Moody Pond. Mr. Minior replied that that is the Eastern Briarwood plume. Mr. Johansen asked if there is another plume in that area. Mr. Minior replied that there is not. Mr. Johansen then asked if the Eastern Briarwood plume possibly could be the source of the detection in the abandoned bog. Mr. Minior replied that that possibility will be investigated. He also noted that currently the Eastern Briarwood plume is in a long-term monitoring action. Mr. Minior explained that in this area there are a select number of wells that are sampled on a periodic basis. That information is reported to the regulatory agencies. Mr. Minior stated that every year AFCEE re-analyzes the Eastern Briarwood plume. He reported that this year three additional monitoring wells will be installed in order to gather more needed information. That information will be put into the model, so that more projections can be made. Mr. Minior stated that he currently does not know whether the Eastern Briarwood plume could have traveled all the way to the area of the abandoned bog. He explained that the groundwater flows into the pond at the low spot, where the river begins, and goes through the bogs and Johns Pond.

Mr. Karson commented that he believes that the Eastern Briarwood plume primarily is a solvent plume, and he is unaware of any EDB detections. Mr. Minior clarified that there were a couple of EDB detections in the abandoned bog. Ms. Kiley noted that part of the planned investigation is to identify the EDB that is associated with the Eastern Briarwood plume.

Mr. Karson adjourned the meeting at 6:30 p.m.