NEWS RELEASE 2006-15
October 26, 2006

Record of Decision Signed for Three Areas of Groundwater in Mashpee

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 three areas of groundwater in the Town of Mashpee near the MMR. AFCEE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed the ROD and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) concurred with the decision which calls for no further action on two areas and continued monitoring of groundwater related to Storm Drain 5 (SD-5).

SD-5, Western Aquafarm (WA) and Eastern Briarwood (EB) are the names of three former plumes that no longer exist due to active groundwater treatment on SD-5 and natural processes of dilution, dispersion and degradation of contaminants in the other two former plumes.

In 1997 a groundwater treatment system consisting of numerous extraction and reinjection wells and a treatment facility were constructed to begin cleanup of the upper half of the SD-5 plume which was known as the SD-5 North groundwater plume. Additional treatment for the lower half of the SD-5 plume which was known as the SD-5 South groundwater plume and was located in the Briarwood neighborhood began in 1999. The treatment systems were shut down over the past few years as clear evidence of aquifer restoration was demonstrated.

The SD-5 groundwater cleanup actions and monitoring of the WA and EB areas were undertaken to fulfill a 1995 Interim ROD for those three areas. 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 July 2005. It consisted of issuing a Proposed Plan, conducting a public meeting and hearing and holding a 30-day public comment period.

The Proposed Plan recommended no further action for the WA and EB groundwater areas as the low contaminant levels that remain do not pose unacceptable risks to human health or the environment. For SD-5, periodic monitoring of test wells was proposed along with re-evaluations to be sure that this remedy remains appropriate and protective of public health. The Proposed Plan also called for land use controls to prevent the use of groundwater in the SD-5 area until the groundwater no longer poses and unacceptable risk.

Comments received during the public comment period were supportive of the proposal and were considered by the agencies before agreement was reached in the SD-5, EB and WA ROD. Responses to those comments can be found in the Responsiveness Summary section of the ROD document.

Copies of the ROD have been placed in the main libraries of Bourne 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