Frequently
Asked Questions
The following
questions and answers pertain to soil and groundwater contamination conditions and issues
related only to the Massachusetts Military Reservation’s (MMR) Installation
Restoration Program (IRP). They do not address situations that may exist off base
that are not related to the military.
Contact
information for sources noted in this handout can be found at the bottom of the page.
Q: If Otis Air National Guard Base closes under the Base
Realignment and Closure Commission recommendation will the Department of Defense (DoD)
continue to clean up environmental contamination at the MMR?
A: DoD is responsible for ensuring that all known
contamination is addressed in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local
environmental laws and regulations. In some cases, DoD may choose to perform
the required cleanup itself before the property is transferred. In others, DoD may arrange
to have the work undertaken by the new owner as part of the real estate transaction.
In either case, there will be oversight and enforcement by environmental regulators
to ensure that the cleanup is protective of human health and the environment. Also,
there are a number of safeguards to ensure that the cleanup is indeed completed.
These safeguards include the possible purchase of private sector environmental insurance
by the new owners of the property and provisions in the laws requiring DoD to ensure the
cleanup of any contamination discovered only after the transfer of the property.
Q: What kinds of chemicals do you routinely check for in the groundwater? What do you find?
A: The Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence (AFCEE) tests
groundwater for over 50 chemicals that fall within the basic categories of fuels and
solvents. Ethylene dibromide (EDB) is an additive to fuel and AFCEE also tests for
this compound. For solvents, we test for things such as tetrachloroethylene (PCE),
trichloroethylene (TCE), and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). With over 8,000 test wells
installed and many more sample results, AFCEE has defined significant areas of groundwater
contamination containing these chemicals above levels that are considered safe under state
and federal drinking water guidelines. For more information, please see Groundwater Plumes map and chemical fact sheets on the
Installation Restoration Program/Massachusetts Military Reservation (IRP/MMR) website, http://www.mmr.org or call the AFCEE Community Involvement
Office at 508-968-4678, extension 2 to request maps and fact sheets. Please note:
the Army National Guard performs explosives sampling and analysis on the MMR under its Impact Area Groundwater Study
Program.
Q: How may I get information on monitoring wells in my
neighborhood or on my property?
A: There are two types of monitoring wells that AFCEE has installed. The first is a well consisting of a metal pipe approximately 4-6 inches in diameter, sticking up above ground 3-4 feet, with a cap and padlock. The second is a flush mount well that consists of a round metal disk approximately 8 inches in diameter, surrounded by a few inches of concrete in a circular or square pattern and level with the ground surface. All monitoring well data is considered public information. Homeowners or residents who are interested in information collected from a monitoring well or wells installed by AFCEE on or near their property may request summaries of test data. Homeowners or residents should copy the identification number off the well cover and call the AFCEE Community Involvement Office at 508-968-4678, extension 2 to request the summary information. The identification number usually contains the two letters "MW" and several numbers before and/or after "MW." If you are unsure if a monitoring well or wells exist on or near your property you can call the AFCEE Community Involvement Office with your address and wells in your immediate area can be identified from the AFCEE database of well information.
Q: I have a monitoring well on my property that belongs to AFCEE. If AFCEE, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Mass. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) determine that they no longer need it for sampling, may I use it for my own purposes?
A: No. The AFCEE policy is to fill all decommissioned
monitoring wells (wells no longer needed) and then cut them below ground surface. If
a municipality requests that a monitoring well is transferred to it for the sole purpose
of groundwater monitoring then an exception can be made to AFCEE’s policy.
Q: When will the groundwater and soil be cleaned up?
A: There are groundwater cleanup systems operating on six plumes,
extracting and cleaning over 11 million gallons of contaminated water each day from
locations both on and off the MMR. Four additional groundwater cleanup systems
currently are under construction. Some systems are expected to operate for less than
ten years, and several will need to be operated for 25-30 years in order to restore the
groundwater aquifer. Two plumes are still under investigation. Most of the
soil cleanup has been completed. The Impact Area Groundwater Study Program is conducting additional
groundwater and soil cleanup work for the northern part of the base.
Q: How much does the cleanup program cost?
A: Approximately $575 million has been spent to date on investigation and cleanup of IRP/MMR sites. The estimated total cost to complete the cleanup project is $860 million. Estimated total cost includes operation of all groundwater cleanup systems for 10 to 30 years.
Q: How may I get copies of plume maps?
A: Maps may be requested by calling the Community Involvement Office at 508-968-4678. You also may access many maps on the IRP/MMR web site at http://www.mmr.org.
Q: How may I become more involved in base issues?
A. There are citizen advisory teams that meet periodically to discuss MMR contamination issues. For more information, contact the AFCEE Community Involvement Office at 508-968-4678 x2 or the Environmental and Readiness Center at 508-968-5143. You also may add your name and address to the site mailing list to receive periodic written updates on the program by contacting the AFCEE Community Involvement Office or by using the IRP/MMR website’s comment form.
Q: How may I arrange for a base tour or for a speaker to come to my class or civic organization?
A: Tours and speakers are provided to area schools, civic groups, etc., free of charge. These activities provide an opportunity to share information and see the progress of the cleanup program. For more information, please call the AFCEE Community Involvement Office at 508-968-4678, extension 2, or refer to the Speaking Engagements and Tours portion of the IRP/MMR website.
Q: Who should I contact for information about environmental cleanup employment opportunities at the base?
A: For government employment opportunities, please contact the Office of Personnel Management Web site at http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/a.htm. Employment information is also available on the IRP/MMR website for contractor companies who provide services on the base.
Public Health and Risk
Q: May I safely swim, wade, or boat in waters at or near the MMR?
A: Yes. Please refer to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) Fact Sheet "Recreational Use of Water Bodies On Or Near the Massachusetts Military Reservation, May 2005", available from AFCEE’s Community Involvement Office or on the IRP/MMR website.
Q: May I safely fish in waters at or near the MMR?
A: Yes, with some exceptions due to mercury contamination. Please refer to the DPH Fact Sheet "Recreational Use of Water Bodies On Or Near the Massachusetts Military Reservation, May 2005", available from AFCEE’s Community Involvement Office or on the IRP/MMR website.
Q: Is it safe to eat food grown in soil on or near the base?
A: Yes. Shallow soil contamination that might affect the root zone of plants in a garden is restricted to property within the base boundary and is located in controlled areas. In most cases, contaminated soils have been removed and cleaned. For residents on the MMR, no contaminated soils are located within the U.S. Coast Guard housing area. Additionally, most groundwater plumes from the MMR are located deep below ground surface.
Q: Are the groundwater plumes from the base causing the elevated cancer levels on Cape Cod? Is there any evidence linking the elevated Upper Cape cancer rates to the activities associated with the MMR?
A: Numerous cancer studies related to the upper Cape and MMR have
been conducted. One of the first studied to be performed was a Boston University
Upper Cape Cancer Incidence Study in 1991. All studies have been inconclusive in
explaining a direct link to elevated cancer rates and hazardous waste conditions known to
exist on or from the MMR. For more information on these studies and other public
health information related to MMR, please contact DPH or the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry. You also may contact local town boards of health.
Q: Is water from my private well safe to drink?
A: AFCEE tested over 300 private wells in the towns of Falmouth, Mashpee, Sandwich, and Bourne twice a year from 1995 to 2000. In some cases, more frequent testing has been conducted. In 2001 and 2002 the total number of homes being tested has been diminished due to AFCEE paying for municipal water supply conversions for many of the wells in the testing program. The number is now less than 30. The tested wells have been located over and in close proximity to the MMR groundwater plumes. The tests demonstrate that the water has been safe to use for all purposes. A reason for this is that the plumes are relatively deep compared to the shallow private residential wells. Although MMR plumes may threaten area private wells, non-base factors, such as fuel/oil leaks, improper disposal of materials into septic systems, proximity to town landfills, gasoline stations, etc., also may impact private wells. It is recommended that residents test their private well water periodically to be assured of its safety. In some cases, AFCEE will offer private well testing free of charge. Please refer to the following fact sheets that may be found on the IRP/MMR website: MassDEP Good Neighbor Policy, EPA Community Relief Policy, and IRP's Residential Well Sampling Program for detailed information. For more information, contact the AFCEE Community Involvement Office at 508-968-4678 x2.
Private Wells and Hookups
Q: Will AFCEE test my private well water?
A: In cases where MMR contaminant plumes are flowing underneath or near homes, AFCEE may offer free private well testing. AFCEE’s policy is that all decisions to offer free private well testing will be made after consultation with the DPH, the MassDEP and the EPA.
Once the appropriate agencies have reviewed all available site specific information, one or more of the following response actions may be implemented, paid entirely by AFCEE.
1. Provision of bottled water.
2. Immediate collection of private drinking water supply well samples for expedited analysis.
3. Testing of private wells at pre-determined intervals (such as biweekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly).
4. Retesting of private wells in an expedited time frame to verify a result.
5. Replacement of a private well with municipal water supplies (connection only, water use paid by homeowner once connected).
6. Provision of domestic water treatment at residence.
In order to be considered for private well testing your well must be
over or near a groundwater plume and your private well must be your only source
of drinking water. For more information, contact the AFCEE Community Involvement
Office at 508-968-4678 x2.
Q: I'm buying a house near the base and would like copies of any private well test results the base may have on the property. Are these results available to me and how may I get a copy?
A: AFCEE’s policy is to release private well data only to the current homeowner. If you do not own the home (for example, if you are a potential home buyer or renting) you may request that information from the homeowner. You also may contact the local board of health as they regulate private wells. AFCEE provides data summaries of private wells to the local boards of health in the towns of Falmouth, Mashpee, Sandwich, and Bourne on an annual basis.
Q: I'm buying a house near the base and the bank requires a test of the private well. Will AFCEE pay for the test?
A: In cases where MMR contaminant plumes are flowing underneath or
near homes AFCEE may offer free private well testing. AFCEE’s policy is that
all decisions to offer free private well testing will be made after consultation with the
DPH, the MassDEP and the EPA. In order to be considered for private well testing
your well must be over or near a groundwater plume and your private well must be your only source of drinking water.
Real Estate
Q: Should I buy a house near the base or an MMR groundwater plume?
A: Many factors are involved when deciding the location where one will purchase a home. Factors such as aircraft noise, small arms firing, vehicle traffic, or the status of the base's cleanup programs might influence public perception and thus potentially affect property value. AFCEE is not aware of any formal study that has been conducted on property values and proximity to the MMR. (Please see MassDEP Good Neighbor Policy and EPA Community Relief Policy). For homes located over or near a groundwater plume, AFCEE has offered free private well testing. In some cases, free municipal water supply connections were provided. Contact the AFCEE community involvement office at (508) 968-4678, extension 2 for information on private well testing and eligibility.
Q: How may I get reimbursed for lost business or property value that I feel is due to contamination from the base?
A: The federal government offers a means for citizens to file a claim in cases in which they feel that damage, injury, or death has resulted from the action of a federal government agency. This falls under the Federal Tort Claims Act. A Standard Form 95 Claim for Damage, Injury or Death may be filed. The Act specifies that negligent acts or omissions of government employees must be present to be eligible for consideration. For more information, please see the Federal Tort Claims Act fact sheet available on the IRP/MMR website.
Q: I'm buying a house near the base and would like copies of any private well test results the base may have on the property. Are these results available to me and how may I get a copy?
A: AFCEE’s policy is to release private well data only to the current homeowner. If you do not own the home (for example, if you are a potential home buyer or renting) you may request that information from the homeowner. You also may contact the local board of health as they regulate private wells. AFCEE provides data summaries of private wells to the local boards of health in the towns of Falmouth, Mashpee, Sandwich, and Bourne on an annual basis.
Q: I'm buying a house near the base and the bank requires a test of the private well. Will AFCEE pay for the test?
A: AFCEE may test a private well in cases where contaminant plumes are flowing underneath or near homes. AFCEE’s policy is that all decisions to offer free private well testing will be made after consultation with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In order to be considered for private well testing your well must be over or near a groundwater plume and your private well must be your only source of drinking water. For more information, please see and IRP's Residential Well Sampling Program.
Contact
Information
AFCEE
Community Involvement Office
Doug Karson
(508) 968-4678 ext. 2
Toll free: 1-866-462-3222
E-mail: doug.karson@brooks.af.mil
IRP/MMR website: http://www.mmr.org
US
Environmental Protection Agency
Jim Murphy
(617) 918-1028
E-mail: murphy.jim@epamail.epa.gov
Massachusetts
Department of Environmental Protection
Ellie Grillo
(508) 946-2886
E-mail: ellie.grillo@state.ma.us
Environmental
and Readiness Center
Lynda Novak-Wadsworth
(508) 968-5152
http://www.eandrc.org
Impact Area
Groundwater Study Program
Kris Curley
(508) 968-5626
kris.curley@ma.ngb.army.mil
http://groundwaterprogram.army.mil
Massachusetts
Department of Public Health
Dave Williams
1-800-319-3042
dave.williams@state.ma.us
Bourne Board
of Health
Cynthia Coffin
(508) 759-0630
Falmouth Board
of Health
David Carignan
(508) 548-7611
Mashpee Board
of Health
Glen Harrington
(508) 539-1400 ext. 533
Sandwich Board
of Health
David Mason
(508) 888-4200
Agency for
Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov
