CAMP EDWARDS: CONTAMINATION FOUND

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@igc.org>]

CAMP EDWARDS: EXPLOSIVE CONTAMINATION CONFIRMED

 Initial results from a new groundwater monitoring well at Army National 
Guard's Camp Edwards (Massachusetts Military Reservation) confirm that 
there are indeed measurable concentrations of explosive chemicals in 
the groundwater aquifer, at depths 120 and 130 feet below the surface. 
RDX (Royal Demolition Explosive) was found at concentrations of 2.9 
parts per billion and 5.6 parts per billion. 1,3,5, Trinitrobenzene was 
found at 10.0 parts per billion and 8.6 parts per billion, and several 
other explosive compounds were detected as well. 

The Army and regulatory agencies don't know the source of the 
contamination - that is, whether it was the result of live fire, 
burial, or other munitions activities. And it's not clear if findings 
at these concentrations will, by themselves, trigger a remedial response.

The findings will, however, reinforce the need for additional sampling, 
and one member of a community oversight group told the Cape Cod Times 
(August 29, 1997), "I think this vindicates the EPA's cease-fire order 
.... I don't think you can bombard your water supply for 60 years and 
not have some effect."

Lenny Siegel