NEWS RELEASE 2006-14
October 26, 2006

Record of Decision Signed for Fuel Spill 12 Plume in Sandwich

MASSACHUSETTS Military Reservation, Cape Cod, Mass.-

Officials from the Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence (AFCEE) announced today that a Record of Decision (ROD) has been signed for the Fuel Spill 12 (FS-12) groundwater plume emanating from the MMR in Sandwich. AFCEE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed the ROD and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) concurred with the decision.

The FS-12 plume is primarily composed of ethylene dibromide (EDB) and is located just northeast of Snake Pond in Sandwich. Its former source is a 1972 release from a break in a section of an on-base fuel pipeline. The plume contains EDB above safe drinking water limits.

In 1997 a groundwater treatment system consisting of numerous extraction and reinjection wells and a treatment facility were constructed to begin cleanup of the FS-12 groundwater plume. Since then the plume has decreased in size and over 90 percent of the contamination has been removed. This cleanup action was undertaken to fulfill a 1995 Interim ROD for the FS-12 groundwater plume as a means to expedite groundwater cleanup. In order to comply with EPA Superfund requirements the Interim ROD had to be finalized at a later date. Thus a public process was initiated in October 2005. It consisted of issuing a Proposed Plan, conducting a public meeting and hearing and holding a 30-day public comment period.

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.

The Proposed Plan recommended continued operation of the groundwater cleanup system for FS-12 along with periodic monitoring of the plume and maintenance and optimization of the system as needed. It also called for land use controls to prevent the use of groundwater in that area until cleanup goals are achieved.

Comments received during the public comment period were supportive of the proposal and were considered by the agencies before agreement was reached in the FS-12 ROD. Responses to those comments can be found in the Responsiveness Summary section of the ROD document.

The continued operation of the FS-12 system will protect public health and expedite restoration of the groundwater aquifer in that area. When active treatment of the plume is no longer effective then the agencies will consult on shutting down the FS-12 treatment system with continued monitoring thereafter.

Copies of the FS-12 ROD have been placed in the main libraries of Bourne, Sandwich and Mashpee. It can also be viewed on the AFCEE website WWW.MMR.ORG at the following link: .

For more information, please contact Mr. Douglas Karson, AFCEE/MMR Community Involvement Lead, at (508) 968-4678, extension 2; Fax (508) 968-4673; or E-mail doug.karson@brooks.af.mil.

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