NEWS RELEASE 2006-13
October 26, 2006

Decision Document Signed for Fuel Spill 13 Source Area

MASSACHUSETTS Military Reservation, Cape Cod, Mass.-

Officials from the Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence (AFCEE) announced today that the Fuel Spill-13 (FS-13) Underground Fuel Line Cantonment Decision Document has been finalized. AFCEE, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) signed the Decision Document.

The Decision Document describes a no further action decision as the selected remedy at the FS-13 source area. Current conditions at the FS-13 site pose no threat to human health or the environment. This conclusion is based upon the results presented in a Site Inspection Technical Memorandum (1996) and a Supplemental Site Inspection Report (2006). Sampling data from these studies were used to evaluate human health and ecological risk as well as risk of contaminants in the soil leaching to groundwater. It was determined that no further action was needed.

The FS-13 site that was evaluated is approximately 11 acres and located near the main rotary and the flight line area on the base. A three-inch diameter fuel supply pipeline was built in the early 1960s to transport aviation gasoline and jet fuel 7.5 miles from the Cape Cod Canal to the flight line area. The pipeline operated until 1973.

A fuel spill was reported in 1972. Historical records indicate that approximately 2,000 gallons of jet fuel were observed at the ground surface during an inspection of the underground fuel supply pipeline at this site. As a result, the area of the spill was excavated and a section of the pipe was replaced.

Copies of the FS-13 Decision Document will be placed in the main libraries of Bourne and Sandwich. It can also be viewed on the AFCEE website WWW.MMR.ORG at the following link: http://mmr.org/cleanup/sites/fs13/default.htm.

To learn more about the cleanup program visit our website at www.mmr.org