MMR Impact Area Groundwater Study/EIS

[Aimee Houghton <aimeeh@cpeo.org>]

This press release was forwarded to us.

Aimee Houghton
******************

IMPACT AREA GROUNDWATER STUDY/
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE
Building 2816, Room 228, Camp Edwards, MA 02542-5003 / TEL 508-968-5821

N E W S R E L E A S E

Date: 12 February 1998

Contact:
Donald L. Consolmagno
Public Affairs Officer
Pager: 508-899-2976

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 (CP Edwards, MA) -- The Army National Guard has confirmed that RDX
(Royal Dutch Explosive) has been detected in two well sites sampled as
part of the Impact Area Groundwater Study on the Massachusetts
Military Reservation.
 Detection of RDX at Monitoring Well #2 located in the north central
portion of the impact area was taken at 175 feet below the ground
surface (bgs), some 40 feet in the aquifer, and at Water Table Well
#13, installed in response to Fuel Spill #12 (FS-12) located near
Greenway Road, southeast of the impact area, some 105 feet bgs at the
water table. The detection of RDX at this site has been communicated to the
Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence with respect to the
ongoing pump and treat system operation.
 The National Guard expects to receive validated results concerning
these detections next week at which time more detailed information
will be made public. In accordance with standard practices, the
National Guard has notified the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
of the detections and will work with that agency and the Massachusetts
Department of Environmental Protection to develop a response action
plan. The plan will be provided to the citizens' review team.