NEWS RELEASE
2004-05 Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR), Cape Cod, Mass. — Officials of the Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence (AFCEE) announced that a recent detection of the chemical trichloroethylene (TCE) was found at a concentration above the state and federal safe drinking water standard from a monitoring well located on the east side of Johns Pond. Due to the depth of TCE it is not believed to be a public health threat at this time. This TCE detection is believed to be related to the Chemical Spill-10 (CS-10) groundwater plume flowing from the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR). During routine sampling at monitoring well #00MW0584A (located near the intersection of Algonquin Avenue and Sakonnet Drive in Mashpee) the chemical TCE was detected at a concentration of 5.7 parts per billion in the well screened at 285 feet below ground surface (bgs). TCE is a cleaning solvent with a state and federal safe drinking water standard of 5 parts per billion. TCE has previously been detected on the east side of Johns Pond, but not above state and federal drinking water standards. This data supports the idea that the CS-10 plume is moving underneath the bottom of Johns Pond. AFCEE has discussed this monitoring well detection with representatives of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Mashpee Board of Health and the Mashpee Water District. After this consultation, AFCEE believes this detection poses no imminent health threat as the depths of most private well screens are less than 100 feet bgs and there are no private wells in the immediate vicinity (~500 feet). Jonathan Davis, Program Manager for AFCEE stated, “We do not believe there is a threat to public health, however, we have decided to increase the frequency of sampling residential drinking water wells to ensure we are protecting public health.” AFCEE conducts residential well sampling in this area and has decided to increase the frequency of this free testing program from annual to semi-annual. Residential wells will next be sampled this Spring. Mr. Davis added, “We were somewhat surprised about this detection and are responding quickly by initiating additional activities to better define the situation.” AFCEE is concerned about the TCE detection because the Mashpee Village public water supply well is located approximately 4,400 feet (approximately 0.8 miles) downgradient (water flowing to it) from the location where the TCE was detected. AFCEE is currently working with the Mashpee Water District to determine if there is any potential future impact to this public water supply well. For more information, please contact Mr. Douglas Karson, AFCEE/MMR Community Involvement Specialist, at (508) 968-4678, extension 2; Fax (508) 968-4673; or E-mail doug.karson@mmr.brooks.af.mil.
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