All News Releases By Date

AFCEE AGREES TO FUND WATER SUPPLY STUDIES

Release Date: 09/09/1998
Contact Information: Alice Kaufman, EPA Press Office, (617) 918-1064

Boston - As a result of EPA actions earlier this year, the Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence (AFCEE) has agreed to invest $300,000 for several projects to identify and protect long-term water supplies for Cape Cod. The agreement - memorialized in a Settlement Agreement signed by EPA-New England and AFCEE - is in response to AFCEE's failure to meet deadlines for submitting its cleanup proposal (called a Record of Decision) for two contamination sites CS16/17 and CS10/FS24 and the subsequent decision by EPA's New England administrator, John P. DeVillars, in June 1998 to deny AFCEE an extension.

The agreement signed today also establishes new enforceable deadlines for key decisions needed to proceed with the cleanups. As a result of the agreement, AFCEE will also hire a consultant to manage the cleanup schedule for the entire Otis/MMR site, helping to ensure that critical deadlines are met and cleanup progress is made.

"This makes enormous good sense," said DeVillars. "We've once again delivered the message to the Air Force that we're not going to allow them to blow off deadlines. And we've turned what would have been a transfer of funds within the U.S. Treasury into projects which address the #1 public policy issue on Cape Cod. At the same time, we've established new and ambitious but realistic deadlines for cleaning up two sites."

The $300,000 that AFCEE has agreed to spend is an expense of funds that goes beyond existing and future budget requirements for cleanup. This money is to be made available during the current fiscal year and next, unless EPA and AFCEE agree to changes in projects and expenditures.

At EPA's insistence there was significant public input into which projects were selected. EPA and AFCEE sought input from the selectmen from the towns of Bourne, Falmouth, Mashpee, Sandwich, as well as numerous members of the public who have been active in public oversight of base cleanup.

The following projects were selected for funding:

• $100,000 - For a Fifth Pump Test at one of the 10 previously identified long range water supply test wells located on the base.
• $70,000 - For long term water resource management planning, including groundwater protection strategies, by the Cape Cod Commission.
• $40,000 - For the US Geological Service to assist in determining future water supply infrastructure needs for the Upper Cape.
• $40,000 - Installation of four sentinel wells to act as an early warning system for groundwater contamination associated with MMR to Mashpee's drinking water.
• $50,000 - To evaluate the viability of an independent versus combined treatment facility for Falmouth's water supply wells at Coonamessett Pond and Crooked Pond.

Specifically, the agreement requires that:

For CS16/17

• Within 15 days, AFCEE and EPA, in consultation with DEP, will develop milestones for completing cleanup activities at several removal sites at MMR.
• By September 30, 1998, AFCEE will prepare and submit to EPA a draft workplan and schedule for sampling and analysis of sludge drying beds, the results of which will be incorporated into the final cleanup plan.

• By September 30, 1998, AFCEE will prepare and submit to EPA a draft workplan and schedule for sampling and analysis of key areas including the entire length of the culvert outfall and drainage swale. The results will be incorporated in the final cleanup plan.
• AFCEE will analyze soils for explosives and explosive-related compounds before submitting the CS10/FS24 ROD, ensuring that this information is calculated into the final cleanup solution proposed.

This settlement agreement requires AFCEE to make all revised enforceable schedules available to the public by September 30, 1998.