This fact sheet addresses community concerns about public health and environmental issues associated with the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR). Terms identified in bold are defined in the glossary.

WHAT IS AN ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT?

An ecological risk assessment is a scientific process which evaluates the potential adverse impacts to plants, animals, and the environment from exposure to contaminants found at MMR. An ecological risk assessment does not evaluate the impacts to humans or domesticated species. The goal of the risk assessment is to evaluate actual and predict potential effects on animal and plant populations and communities that occupy or could occupy habitats (e.g., wetland, stream or estuary) affected by contamination. The ecological assessment may be qualitative or quantitative, where risk is expressed in terms of numerical estimates of potential harm. Sometimes, the term environmental assessment is used synonymously with ecological risk assessment.

WHO PERFORMS ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENTS FOR MMR AND WHY?

The Department of Defense (with federal and state oversight), EPA, or MassDEP may conduct an ecological risk assessment. Ecological risk assessments for MMR are generally conducted in accordance with the MMR Risk Assessment Handbook (Massachusetts Air National Guard, 1994) which can be found at the local libraries. Ecological risk assessments are done as a requirement of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) to document risk to the environment. They provide decision-makers with information on the likelihood and magnitude of potential threats to the environment associated with exposure to contaminants or from actions designed to clean up the site.

HOW ARE THE RESULTS OF AN ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT USED AT MMR?

There are approximately 79 sites associated with MMR which require ecological risk assessments. Not all sites will warrant a thorough quantitative evaluation of ecological risk. The ecological risk assessment for some sites may consist of a simple narrative that describes the absence of quality habitat surrounding the site (e.g., in areas in which contamination is beneath a paved area). Assessors thereby determine there is no potential threat to ecological receptors. The results of the ecological risk assessments help decisionmakers decide where MMR should undertake cleanup actions to be protective of plants and animals in the affected habitats. They also are used to predict the potential ecological impact, if any, from implementing different cleanup options. Once a remedial action is selected for a site, an environmental monitoring plan is developed to assess whether the remedial actions may have unacceptable ecological effects on habitats of concern.

WHAT TYPES OF RISK ARE EVALUATED IN AN MMR ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT?

The types of stressors evaluated in an MMR ecological risk assessment include those posed by chemical contamination and physical changes (such as habitat destruction). Ecological effects on selected plants and animals, such as changes in growth, ability to produce offspring, or death, also may be evaluated in the ecological risk assessment. Other types of ecological risk assessments may be more complex and include evaluation of potential threats to structure and function of communities, populations, and ecosystems. In summary, any threats posed to wildlife, fisheries, endangered and threatened species, species of special concern, and valued habitats may be appropriately addressed in an ecological risk assessment.

DO ANY ENDANGERED SPECIES EXIST AT OR AROUND MMR?

IF SO, WHAT IS BEING DONE TO ADDRESS POSSIBLE IMPACTS TO THESE SPECIES?

Currently, there are no federally-listed endangered or threatened species on MMR. However, the following 28 species which are identified in the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act as endangered, threatened or species of special concern (Table 1) do inhabit areas in or surrounding MMR.

As the investigation shifts to areas where endangered or threatened species exist or may be impacted, ecological risk assessors will pay particular attention to documenting potential harm to individual endangered or threatened species. Similarly, risk managers will carefully evaluate all impacts of their decisions on individuals that belong to threatened, endangered or species of special concern. This is important because these species are protected at the individual level under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act. MMR is working with the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program in protecting this unique flora and fauna.

Table 1. State-listed endangered, threatened and species of special concern in or surrounding MMR

WHAT IS BEING DONE TO ENSURE THE PROTECTION OF ECOLOGICAL RECEPTORS AND THEIR HABITATS FROM THE IMPACTS OF THE ALTERNATIVES SELECTED FOR MMR GROUNDWATER PLUMES?

At MMR, an Ecological Monitoring Program has been or will be used to evaluate the remedial alternatives implemented or proposed for five plumes with active or planned remediation efforts: Fuel Spill 12 (FS-12), Storm Drain 5 (SD-5), Chemical Spill 10 (CS-10), Ashumet Valley, and Landfill 1 (LF-1)). The Ecological Monitoring Program is part of the Plume Response Plan and is being implemented for each plume to obtain information on: (1) the baseline conditions of the various ecosystems (e.g., what is there and in what condition); (2) the ecological risk to the ecosystems from plume contaminants; and (3) the physical impacts of the groundwater remediation system on the ecosystems (e.g., changes in water levels, pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen). Monitored ecosystems include: cranberry bogs, coastal plain ponds, vernal pools, rivers, streams, estuaries and forested wetlands. Currently, the baseline data has been collected for the last year for the FS-12, CS-10 and SD-5 plumes. The SD-5 and FS-12 groundwater treatment systems began operation in August and September respectively and the ecological monitoring will continue. Sampling associated with LF-1 and Ashumet Valley is scheduled to be conducted in 1998. Additional ecological monitoring is being conducted for the FS-28 treatment system. Ecological Risk Assessment is a component of the South West Operable Unit and FS-1 investigations.

DOES AN ECOLOGICAL RISK EVALUATION ADDRESS RISK TO HUMANS WHO MAY CONSUME RECREATIONALLY CAUGHT FISH, SHELLFISH, WILD GAME, OR WATERFOWL?

No. Health risks to humans who may consume contaminated species such as fish, shellfish, wild game, waterfowl or food crops are evaluated in a Human Health Risk Assessment. Ecological risk assessments only address threats to non-human receptors.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

GLOSSARY

community: Populations of different species living together in complex associations. Communities are defined by the species that are present, their numbers, and their relative proportions

contaminants: Any substance that diminishes the quality of air, water, soil, or food.

ecological receptors: Any living organism(s) evaluated within the ecological risk assessment.

ecosystem: A functional system comprised of living populations interacting with non-living components (e.g., soil, minerals, water, and the atmosphere).

endangered: Any plant or animal species in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.

extinction: The complete elimination of all individuals within a given species.

habitats: The type of environment (including the physical, chemical and biological characteristics) where a particular species occurs.

population: A group of organisms of the same species, generally occupying a continuous area, and capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring.

receptor: see ecological receptors

species of special concern: Any plant or animal species which has been documented as suffering a decline that could threaten the species.

stressor: Any physical, chemical or biological entity that can cause an adverse response.

threatened: Any plant or animal species which is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Additional information about the cleanup program at the MMR is available on the program’s website (http://www.mmr.org). The website includes a variety of information, including technical documents, meetings agendas and summaries, maps, glossaries, weekly reports, and news releases. It also includes links to other websites, including those of EPA Region 1, DEP, DPH, and ATSDR.

In addition, five local libraries house information repositories for the cleanup program. The libraries are:

The Administrative Record, which is a public record of all documents used in decision-making, is available for review at the Falmouth Public Library or by contacting the IRP Office at (508) 968-4678.

This fact sheet was developed through a collaborative effort of the Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence (AFCEE), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), Joint Program Office (JPO), and local officials.