US EPA, Air Force Sign Cleanup Agreeement

["CPEO" <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

Contact: Amy Miller, EPA Press Office (617) 918-1042
         Alice Kaufman, EPA Community Affairs (617) 918-1064


For immediate release: May 12, 1999; Release # 99-5-5

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, AIR
FORCE SIGN CLEANUP AGREEMENT 

BOSTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today it has
signed an agreement with the US Air Force Center for Environmental
Excellence for cleanup of contaminated surface soil at the former sewage
treatment plant at the Massachusetts Military Reservation on Cape Cod. 

The estimated $2.4 million agreement calls for excavating approximately
9,788 cubic yards of contaminated surface soil. Excavated soil that exceeds
federal or state cleanup levels will be sent to a licensed off-site
disposal facility. The remaining excavated soil will be treated on site
through a process called "asphalt batching." 

"Cleaning the soil around the demolished sewage treatment plant brings us
another step closer to the environmental restoration of MMR," said John P.
DeVillars, EPA's New England Administrator. "This plan for excavation is
the first of four Superfund cleanup plans we expect to approve this year
for soil cleanup at the military base." 

EPA will work with the Air Force to make sure that all health and safety
measures, particularly air quality monitoring, are properly done during the
excavation and treatment to protect base residents, workers and neighbors
from exposure to contaminants. 

Soil samples will be tested before and after excavation to be sure the
clean-up complies with required clean-up standards. EPA and the
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection will also monitor and
inspect the site before and after the work is done to be sure the clean-up
is complete. 

In 1996, MMR conducted a clean-up of some of its contaminated soils.Soil
that was treated at an asphalt batching plant on site was used as subgrade
material for about 4.5 miles of roadways at MMR. That asphalt batching
plant was dismantled. The Air Force will chose a new site and start-up date
for an asphalt batching plant during the next phase of the project. The
public will be kept informed during the design and construction phase
through project updates and community meetings. 

 The Superfund Cleanup plan is described in a document called the Record of
Decision, which was signed May 5 by EPA and the Air Force, with concurrence
from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Copies of
all documents related to this project can be found in the Falmouth, MA,
main library.