Alternatives for cleaning up the leading edge portions of the CS-10 groundwater plume were developed this spring in a draft Feasibility Study (FS). AFCEE uses nine criteria, required by EPA Superfund law, to select a cleanup plan or remedy that has the best balance of protecting human health and the environment, maintaining protection over time, and minimizing untreated contamination. Of these nine criteria, protection of human health and compliance with Applicable or Relevant and Appropriate Requirements (ARARs) are considered threshold criteria that must be met for a cleanup alternative to be selected. The next five criteria, called balancing criteria, are used to evaluate and compare alternatives. These criteria help to evaluate how effectively each alternative would meet the CS-10 cleanup goals; whether or not each cleanup alternative could be constructed; how each alternative potentially would affect the surrounding natural ecosystem; and how cost-effective each alternative would be at reaching cleanup goals. State and community concerns are considered modifying criteria factored into a final balancing of all criteria to select a remedy. Consideration of state, PCT, and community comments may prompt AFCEE to modify aspects of the preferred alternative or decide that another alternative provides a more appropriate balance.

The next step in the cleanup process, after the FS, is called the Proposed Plan where a preferred alternative for cleaning up the entire CS-10 groundwater plume is presented to the public. The Proposed Plan is issued with a 30-day public comment period so that the public has the opportunity to comment on the preferred alternative. A public hearing is held during this comment period, offering the public an opportunity to make oral comments and/or submit written comments. These comments help the AFCEE and regulatory agencies understand how acceptable each of the cleanup alternatives are to the affected neighborhood residents and the general public. During this formal public comment period, modifications can be made to the proposed alternatives to address public concerns. Public acceptability is an important criteria in making final cleanup decisions. The final decision will be documented in a Record of Decision, which includes a Responsiveness Summary in which responses are provided for all public comments received.

Preliminary alternatives for cleaning up the entire CS-10 plume have been discussed at PCT meetings in Dec. 2001, Jan. and Feb. 2002. A fact sheet entitled "Final Groundwater Cleanup Decisions" and PCT meeting minutes are available on the IRP web site at www.mmr.org.