administrative record: a collection of documents generated during the investigation of the site that form the basis for selection of a remedial action and are placed in a central location for public review.

adsorb: to attach by physical or chemical attraction.

Aerozine-50: a common rocket fuel component.

air sparging and soil vapor extraction (SVE): a process that removes hydrocarbons from both soil and shallow groundwater by injecting air bubbles into the upper groundwater near the source, where the plume is the shallowest, causing the volatile components of the release to rise to where they can be captured in the unsaturated overlying soils. The vapor is retrieved by a vacuum system and treated aboveground by passing it through a catalytic oxidizer (similar to an automobile catalytic converter) that uses heat and a metal catalyst to break down the contaminants to carbon dioxide and water. The air (in vapor phase) then passes through activated carbon filters that rid the air of any remaining fuel compounds. The carbon filters are recycled periodically at an off-site licensed recycling facility.

applicable or relevant and appropriate requirements (ARARs): federal and/or state laws and regulations that must be met during the implementation and at the completion of the remedy.

aquifer: an underground geological formation containing usable amounts of groundwater that can supply wells and springs.

asphalt batching: a process that incorporates low-level contaminated soils into paving material with the addition of a heated emulsion at less than 120°F. The process is regulated by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MADEP), and the final product is used statewide as a base under asphalt-paved surfaces. The subgrade material is capped with 1 to 2 inches of asphalt cover for durability and to limit infiltration of water. Therefore, the asphalt-batched material is not exposed directly to traffic and elements.

attenuation: see natural attenuation.

aviation gasoline (AVGAS): a petroleum hydrocarbon mixture used as aircraft fuel that is less volatile and more stable than motor gasoline. This type of fuel has been and continues to be leaded.

axial: aligned with the direction of groundwater flow.

battery electrolyte: an ionized solution used in batteries that allows the movement of electrons, thereby conducting electricity.

benzene: a colorless, liquid hydrocarbon that is a component of fuels such as motor gasoline.

biodegradation: the natural process of contaminant breakdown by microorganisms in the environment, often forming non- or less-harmful byproducts.

BTEX: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene; a group of volatile hydrocarbons that are commonly found together in crude petroleum and petroleum products such as gasoline.

capture: actions taken to abate, contain, or recover a contaminant by a remedy.

carbon tetrachloride: a chlorinated hydrocarbon generally used in the past as a solvent.

chemical stabilization: reduction in contaminant mobility caused by chemical processes.

chloroform: a colorless liquid with a pleasant odor and a slight, sweet taste (also called trichloromethane). It is a small molecule that dissolves easily in water. Chloroform is both a synthetic and naturally occurring compound, although sources from humans, such as septic systems and other water treatment processes involving chlorination, are responsible for most of the chloroform in the environment.

cleanup: actions for removing contaminants from the environment.

cleanup alternative: see remedial alternative

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA): a law, commonly known as Superfund, that authorizes the federal government to respond directly to releases of hazardous substances that may endanger public health or the environment.

construction debris: generally nonhazardous materials resulting from construction activities.

contaminated sewage sludge: solid by-product material that contains large amounts of organic matter and results from the wastewater treatment process.

Cosmolene: a rust-inhibiting petroleum product.

decision criteria: the factors evaluated and compared in the Plume Response Alternatives Evaluation Matrix.

decision document: a document that outlines the rationale and public comment at the site investigation stage leading to the decision that a remedial investigation/feasibility study is not required.

decision point: the time at which the plume response alternative is selected.

1,2-dichloroethylene (1,2-DCE): a chlorinated hydrocarbon generally used as a solvent or often found as a degradation product of TCE (see trichloroethylene).

dispersion: the process of mixing that occurs when fluid flows though a porous medium.

Dowchlor: trade name for chlordane, primarily used in the past as an insecticide. Commercial use of chlordane has been prohibited in the United States since April 1988.

downgradient: the area toward which groundwater flows.

drawdown: lowering of the water table caused by pumping a well.

ecological health: the overall condition or wellbeing of the relationship between organisms (people, animals, or plants) and their environment.

ecological impacts: potential effects on ecosystems, including threatened and endangered species, habitats, wetlands, surface water bodies, and forested areas.

emergency removal action: a regulatory approach used when actions are needed immediately to clean up a hazardous material spill.

enforceable milestones: the time limitations to perform certain work (such as drilling monitoring wells), write specific documents (such as workplans), or make definite decisions. The time limits are established under the terms of the FFA.

engineering evaluation/cost analysis (EE/CA): a quantitative evaluation of the costs that would be incurred by implementing an environmental regulation versus the overall benefits to society of the proposed action.

ethylbenzene: a volatile hydrocarbon found in crude petroleum and petroleum products such as gasoline.

ethylene dibromide (EDB): an additive in aviation gas to control the buildup of lead in engines.

exposure pathway: the route by which a receptor (human, bird, etc.) may come into contact with a contaminant (e.g., drinking the groundwater or wading in the surface water).

extraction, treatment, and reinjection (ETR): a system that extracts groundwater, treats it to reduce or eliminate contaminants, and reinjects the treated water into the aquifer.

extraction well: a well where water is pumped out to treat the water and to redirect groundwater movement.

feasibility study (FS): a report that identifies and evaluates potential cleanup alternatives.

Federal Facility Agreement (FFA): an agreement between EPA and individual federal facilities that establishes a procedural and legal framework for investigating and remediating Superfund sites.

fence: a series of wells aligned in a row.

five-year review: a periodic review of a Superfund site conducted after a response action has been initiated; the purpose of a five-year review is to evaluate whether the response action remains protective of public health and the environment.

flux: the volume of water moving through a cross-sectional area of an aquifer or surface water body.

groundwater: the supply of fresh water found beneath the earth’s surface, usually in aquifers, which supply wells and springs.

groundwater plume: a body of groundwater containing contaminants exceeding maximum contaminant levels as defined by multiple samples from multiple wells. In the absence of maximum contaminant levels, a risk-based level will be established.

hazardous waste: a waste material that may pose a threat to human health or the environment.

Her Majesty’s Explosive (HMX): a colorless solid used in various kinds of explosives and rocket fuels; also known as octogen and cyclotetramethylene-tetranitramine.

hot spot: within a body of groundwater containing contaminants, an area defined as having elevated concentrations.

hydraulic control: the process by which the flow of a groundwater plume is controlled by pumping or injection of the aquifer.

hydrocarbon: an organic compound composed of hydrogen and carbon.

hydrological screening goals: target values established to evaluate potential impacts to surface water bodies.

hydrology: the science dealing with the properties, distribution, and circulation of water.

Impact Area: the 2,200-acre area located in the center of Camp Edwards that was used as a target for artillery and mortar firing during training exercises.

infiltration gallery: a shallow subsurface structure designed to accelerate infiltration of treated groundwater. An alternative to reinjection wells. Treated water can be discharged to infiltration galleries if no sensitive ecosystems are present.

information repository: a set of documents that contain important facts relating to the cleanup of a Superfund site such as the administrative record; all correspondence, reports and documents pertaining to the cleanup; and general Superfund program information.

inorganics: a series of chemicals that do not contain carbon compounds.

Installation Restoration Program (IRP): the U.S. Department of Defense program implemented at U.S. military bases to identify, investigate, and clean up contamination resulting from past operations.

institutional controls: stipulations which reduce or eliminate exposures such as fencing, deed restrictions, covenants, or land use restrictions.

Joint Process Action Team (JPAT): a community advisory team tasked to review technical plans and information, develop site cleanup recommendations, and advise the IRP on related IRP issues.

JP-4: jet propellant, a type of fuel used extensively in the past that contains both gasoline and kerosene.

lobe: usually used to describe a separate portion of a main body of a groundwater plume.

Long-Range Water Supply (LRWS) Team: a community advisory team tasked to review community water supply issues.

low conductivity: generally describes a low ability to transmit water. Used to describe silts and clays.

Massachusetts Contingency Plan: a set of rules and regulations that govern the cleanup of oil and hazardous materials in the protection of public health, welfare, and the environment.

maximum contaminant level (MCL): the maximum concentration of a given contaminant allowed in drinking water under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. When the state drinking water standards are more stringent than the federal MCL, the state standard is used.

migration: the movement of groundwater and contaminants through an aquifer.

mitigation: measures taken to reduce adverse impacts on the environment.

mobile carbon treatment: an alternative to construction and operation of permanent extraction and treatment systems. Mobile (trailer- or skid-mounted) carbon vessels can treat up to 100 gallons per minute. This process allows flexibility to remove areas of high contaminant concentration or to move the system to another location when concentrations drop to inefficient treatment levels.

monitoring well: a well from which water level and water quality data are collected.

motor gasoline (MOGAS): a fuel used for automobiles and other gasoline-powered engines that often contains lead.

mounding: raising of the water table caused by reinjecting groundwater.

National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan: the federal regulation that sets forth the procedures for implementing cleanup under CERCLA (commonly known as Superfund).

National Priorities List (NPL): the EPA list of uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites that are priorities for long-term remedial evaluation and response.

natural attenuation: the process by which a compound is reduced in concentration over time by natural processes.

natural resource injury and damages: a measurable adverse change in the chemical or physical quality or the viability of a natural resource (land, fish, wildlife, biota, air, water, groundwater, drinking water supplies, and other such resources belonging to, managed by, held in trust by, or otherwise controlled by the United States, any state or local government) and the amount of money sought by the natural resource trustee as compensation for the injury, destruction, or loss of natural resources.

nitrate: a compound containing nitrogen that can exist in the atmosphere or as a dissolved gas in water and which can have harmful effects on humans and animals. Nitrates in water can cause severe illness in infants and domestic animals. A plant nutrient and inorganic fertilizer, nitrate is found in septic systems, animal feed lots, agricultural fertilizers, manure, industrial waste waters, sanitary landfills, and garbage dumps.

no further action: a recommendation made for a site when no unacceptable risk to human health and the environment is found.

non-time-critical removal action: a regulatory approach used when actions are needed to clean up a hazardous material spill that does not need to be addressed right away. Six months or more are available to design the treatment system.

operation and maintenance: activities conducted after a Superfund site action is completed to ensure that the action is effective or actions taken after construction to ensure that facilities constructed to treat waste water will be properly operated and maintained to achieve normative efficiency levels and prescribed effluent limitations in an optimum manner.

ordnance: weapons of all kinds, including heavy artillery, and associated ammunition.

organics: a series of chemicals containing carbon compounds.

parts per billion (ppb): measure of concentration of contaminants, which for water is equivalent to micrograms per liter.

PD-680: petroleum distillate; a hydrocarbon mixture generally used as a solvent.

perchloroethylene (PCE): a manmade chlorinated solvent widely used in dry cleaning and for removing grease from metal surfaces.

phosphorus: a nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family that occurs widely, especially as phosphates. An essential chemical food element that can contribute to the eutrophication of lakes and other water bodies. Increased phosphorus levels result from discharge of phosphorus-containing materials into surface waters.

pilot test: demonstrations of technologies/systems to evaluate performance under field conditions. The results are used to develop plume response alternatives and design full-scale treatment systems.

plume: see groundwater plume.

Plume Cleanup Team: a community advisory team tasked to develop recommendations and provide ongoing advice to the IRP, EPA, and MADEP Remedial Project/Program Managers (RPMs) and the SMB on the cleanup of resources, on and off base, affected by contaminants from the MMR under applicable state and federal laws and regulations and on related community involvement issues.

Plume Containment Team: a community advisory team tasked to develop recommendations and provide ongoing advice to the IRP, EPA, and MADEP Remedial Project/Program Managers (RPMs) and the SMB on the investigation, study, and remedial actions for plume containment, plume capture, and overall cleanup of MMR IRP sites.

plume response alternatives: a specific configuration of treatment system(s) to be compared and evaluated.

polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB): a mixture of synthetic organic chemicals ranging from oily liquids to waxy solids that are often used as insulating, heat-exchange materials in hydraulic, heat transfer, and electrical equipment such as transformers and capacitors. The manufacturing of PCBs in the United States ceased in 1977.

preliminary assessment (PA): information about potential contamination at a site or plume to determine if further information gathering or analysis is necessary.

present worth cost: the amount of money, if invested today and disbursed as needed, sufficient to cover all costs associated with the remedial action over its planned life.

proposed plan (PP): a document that summarizes for the public the preferred remedial alternative for a site and presents the rationale for the preference.

Public Information Team (PIT): a community advisory team tasked to review information products for readability, assist with community and neighborhood outreach activities, and advise the IRP on community concerns and ways to communicate most effectively with the communities.

reactive wall: an innovative cleanup technology that involves placing a barrier or "wall" of granular iron filings vertically into the ground across a groundwater plume. As the contaminated groundwater flows through the wall, chlorinated compounds, such as TCE and PCE react chemically with the iron to ultimately produce non-toxic chloride ions and non-toxic hydrocarbons.

recirculating well: a process for capturing, treating, and releasing groundwater within the same well. The process is not expected to adversely affect the water table.

record of decision (ROD): a document presenting the remedial action selected under agreement with the regulatory agencies.

reinjection well: a well where clean water is pumped into the aquifer to replace contaminated water that has been removed.

remedial action (RA): activities conducted to reduce or eliminate the long-term risks to human health or the environment from exposure to contaminants.

remedial alternative: an option outlining a specific design for treatment to be compared and evaluated with other cleanup options.

remedial design (RD): a phase of remedial action that follows the remedial investigation/feasibility study and includes development of engineering drawings and specifications for a site cleanup.

remedial investigation (RI): an investigation to gather and analyze the data necessary to determine the nature and extent of contamination at a site, evaluate the risks to human health and the environment, and provide information for identifying and evaluating options for remedial action.

Remedial Project/Program Managers (RPMs): the program managers appointed by the Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence (AFCEE), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MADEP).

remediation: cleanup or other methods used to remove or contain a toxic spill or hazardous materials from a Superfund site.

remedy: a method, technique, or process designed to treat or clean up contaminated air, soil, sediments, or water.

removal action: a short-term immediate action taken to address a release of hazardous substances that requires expedited response.

responsiveness summary (RS): a document presenting formal comments received during the public comment period and responses to the comments.

risk: measure of the chance that adverse impacts to life, health, or the environment may occur.

risk assessment: an evaluation to determine the risk posed to human health and the environment as a result of exposure to contaminants.

Royal Dutch Explosive (RDX): a white powder used as an explosive and in combination with other ingredients in explosives; also known as cyclonite or hexogen.

sediments: soil deposited by wind, water, or glaciers.

semivolatile organic compound (SVOC): a hydrocarbon that partially vaporizes when exposed to air. Chlordane and DDT are examples of SVOCs used in the past as insecticides.

Senior Management Board (SMB): an advisory team consisting of the selectmen of the four adjacent towns (Bourne, Mashpee, Falmouth, and Sandwich), the U.S. Coast Guard, the Massachusetts National Guard, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Its current tasking is to provide input on policy and management issues involving plume response actions of public concern and to review the work of all other citizen involvement teams.

silts: sedimentary units that are classified as being finer-grained than sands but coarser than clays.

site investigation (SI): the initial investigation phase at a site or plume, including data analysis to confirm or deny the presence of contamination (and whether further response actions are needed).

socioeconomic impacts: potential effects on commercial and residential interests, recreational areas, and historical and archeological sites.

soil vapor extraction: see air sparging and soil vapor extraction.

solvent: a compound, usually a liquid, that dissolves or disperses other substances. TCE and PCE are common solvents used for equipment maintenance and degreasing.

sorption: the ability of some substances to soak up or attract contaminants and hold on to them.

source area: the location where contaminant(s) entered the soil, water, air, or sediment.

Superfund: the program operated under the legislative authority of CERCLA and the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA) that funds and carries out the EPA solid waste emergency and long-term removal remedial activities. These activities include establishing the National Priorities List, investigating sites for inclusion on the list, determining their priority level on the list, and conducting and/or supervising the ultimately determined cleanup and other remedial actions. See also Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act.

Technical Review and Evaluation Team (TRET): A group of hydrogeological and eco-logical experts from EPA, MADEP, U.S. Geological Survey, Mitretek Systems, HAZWRAP/Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and other local scientists. The TRET is tasked with advising the Remedial Project/Program Managers (RPMs), IRP, and its contractors on technical and scientific issues of concern.

1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane: a chlorinated solvent used for metal degreasing.

tetrachloroethylene: see perchloroethylene.

time-critical removal action (TCRA): a regulatory approach used when quick actions are needed to clean up a hazardous material spill, but when fewer than six months are available to design the treatment system.

toluene: a hydrocarbon used in AVGAS and also used as a solvent for paints and oils.

total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH): a mixture of hydrocarbon compounds typically found in fuels.

treatment: a method, technique, or process designed to change the physical, chemical, or biological character or composition of contaminated groundwater.

trichloroethylene (TCE): a chlorinated solvent used to dissolve or disperse another substance such as oil. TCE was used extensively in the past for cleaning and metal degreasing.

1,2,4-trimethylbenzene: a colorless, flammable liquid and volatile organic compound that occurs naturally in coal tar and petroleum crude oil. It is most widely used as a petroleum fuel additive. It is also used as a solvent and can be found in certain paints, pesticides, and inks.

1,3,5-trimethylbenzene: a colorless, flammable liquid and volatile organic compound that occurs naturally in coal tar and petroleum crude oil. It is most widely used as a petroleum fuel additive. It is also used as a solvent and can be found in some pesticides and inks.

turpentine: a solvent obtained from the oil found in pine timber. It is good for many resins, waxes, and fats and is largely employed in making varnish.

upgradient: the area from which groundwater flows.

vinyl chloride: a chlorinated hydrocarbon generally formed from the biodegradation or natural breakdown of the parent compounds TCE (see trichloroethylene) and DCE (see 1,2-dichloroethylene).

volatile organic compound (VOC): any organic compound that evaporates readily to the atmosphere. For example, benzene is a VOC found in gasoline that can be emitted into the atmosphere when gasoline evaporates. VOCs are also used in paints, plastics, solvents, and other products.

volatilization: transfer of a chemical from liquid to vapor; evaporation.

xylene: a hydrocarbon used in AVGAS and also used as a solvent.