Military Munitions Response Program (MMRP) Site Status Update

Joint Base Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Rose Forbes, AFCECJennifer Bouchard, EA Engineering, Science, and

Technology, Inc., PBC

Joint Base Cape Cod Cleanup Team Meeting13 March 2019

OUTLINE

• Background of Military Munitions Response Program (MMRP) at Joint Base Cape Cod (JBCC)

• Overview of the MMRP Process

• Site Status Updates

• Questions/Comments

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Background of MMRP at JBCC

• The Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC) is conducting investigation/remediation at 10 Munitions Response Areas (MRAs) at JBCC under the MMRP.

• As a result of previous military training, Department of Defense (DoD) sites may contain munitions and explosives of concern (MEC), discarded military munitions (DMM), and/or munitions constituents (MC).

• The MMRP follows the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the National Contingency Plan.

• JBCC’s Federal Facility Agreement applies to these MMRP sites but does not apply to operational ranges, operating storage/manufacturing facilities, or to permitted treatment and disposal facilities.

MMRP Sites at JBCC

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Overview of the MMRP Process

Remedial Investigation

Feasibility Study

Proposed Plan/Record of

Decision*Remedial Design

Remedial Action Construction/

LUC Implementation

Long-Term Management

Response Complete

CSE Phase II

No Further Action

HRR/CSE Phase I

HRR – Historical Records ReviewCSE – Comprehensive Site EvaluationLUC – Land Use ControlsMRA – Munitions Response Area* Includes opportunity for public involvement

No Further Action

Note: At any time during the MMRP process, an ‘interim’ removal action can be performed to reduce identified risks to human health or the environment. The Skeet Range MRA will follow this process.

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Former Otis Bomb Storage Magazines Munitions Response Area (MRA)

• General Information – A 38.5-acre munitions response area (MRA) used for munitions storage of bombs staged at Otis Air Force Base (AFB) from 1940s to 1951.

• Current Status – CSE Phase II Report was finalized in February 2018. Preparing No Further Action Decision Document.

• Findings – No evidence of MEC, munitions debris (MD), or MC. No unacceptable risk to human health or ecological receptors identified. Significant redevelopment has occurred at the MRA.

• Recommendations – No Further Action.

• Remaining Steps – Final No Further Action Decision Document (2019) with public comment period.

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Former Otis Bomb Storage Magazines MRA

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Otis Target Butt MRA

• General Information – A 1.3-acre MRA used for test firing aircraft machine guns (0.30 caliber and 0.50 caliber) from approximately 1943 to 1950s.

• Current Status – CSE Phase II Report was finalized in February 2018. Preparing No Further Action Decision Document.

• Findings – MEC was not anticipated at this site. Test pitting was conducted to look for visual evidence of small arms and conduct sampling for lead which is the primary MC in small arms. Lead in soil reported below U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) residential screening levels. No unacceptable risks to human health or ecological receptors were identified.

• Recommendations – No Further Action.

• Remaining Steps – Final No Further Action Decision Document (2019) with public comment period.

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Otis Target Butt MRA

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Old K Range MRA

• General Information – A 149.4-acre MRA consisting of two MMRP areas: a former moving target rifle range and a former rocket range.

• Current Status – CSE Phase II Report was finalized in February 2018. Remedial Investigation (RI) field work completed and Draft RI Report under preparation.

• Findings:– Rifle Range: No evidence of small arms and lead in soil samples collected were below

residential screening criteria. Historical evidence of incidental discarded military munitions (DMM) at the former rifle range.

– Rocket Range: Evidence of MEC from former rocket range usage (generally 2.36-in. rockets). Soil and groundwater samples collected for potential MC (explosives, perchlorate, lead, copper, antimony, and zinc) during the RI.

• Recommendations – Complete RI and Feasibility Study (FS).

• Remaining Steps – RI/FS (2019). Proposed Plan (PP)/Record of Decision (ROD) (2019/2020). Remedial Action Work Plan and Remedial Action/Land Use Controls (LUCs) (2020). Remedial Action Completion Report (2021).

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Old K Range MRA

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Old K Range MRA Areas of Interest

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Skeet Range MRA

• General Information – A 29.3-acre MRA used for small arms (shotgun) training in the 1940s.

• Current Status – CSE Phase II Report was finalized in February 2018. Preparing Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA).

• Findings – MEC was not anticipated at this site. Investigation was for the primary MC associated with small arms and skeet, lead and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Lead in soil reported generally below residential screening levels. Small area of soil with lead above residential and industrial land use screening criteria was identified.

• Recommendations – Non-Time Critical Removal Action to remove “hot spot” area of lead to expedite the remediation. Complete the site closure process after the removal action.

• Remaining Steps – EE/CA, Action Memo (2019). Removal Action Work Plan, Non-Time Critical Removal Action (NTCRA) (2019). No Further Action Decision Document (2020).

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Skeet Range MRA

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Otis Gun Club• General Information – A 74.6-acre MRA used for small arms (shotgun, pistol, and rifle)

training in the 1940s. The MRA consists of three training areas; a rifle range, a skeet and trap range, and a pistol range.

• Current Status – CSE Phase II Report was finalized in February 2018. RI field work conducted in June/July 2018.

• Findings – MEC was not anticipated at this site. Investigation for MC yielded the following findings:

– Skeet and Trap Range: Lead and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil above risk based screening criteria.

– Rifle Range: Lead in soil not detected above USEPA residential screening criteria. No unacceptable risks identified.

– Pistol Range: Lead in soil above risk based screening criteria.– No Further Action Area: Not utilized for military training. No unacceptable risks to human

health or ecological receptors were identified.

• Recommendations – Perform RI/FS for Trap and Skeet Range and Pistol Range (underway, 2019).

• Remaining Steps – PP/ROD (2019) including no further action (NFA) for No Further Action Area and Rifle Range. Remedial Action/LUCs, Remedial Action Completion Report (2020 - 2021).

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Otis Gun Club MRA1966 Historical Aerial

Photograph

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Ordnance Area 1 MRA• General Information – A 23.5-acre MRA used for munitions storage of

bombs staged at Otis AFB in the 1940s. A portion of this MRA extends beyond DoD owned property.

• Current Status – CSE Phase II Report was finalized in February 2018.

• Findings – MRA boundary was expanded prior to CSE Phase II field sampling based on additional research. No evidence of MEC, MD, or MC was identified. No unacceptable risks to human health or ecological receptors were identified.

• Recommendations – The CSE Phase II concluded that additional assessment and/or action is recommended prior to final remediation decision; however, Air Force is working to achieve NFA for the MRS. Air Force and regulators above project manager level need to resolve investigation requirements for supply points and storage areas with potential for future residential use.

• Remaining Steps – If NFA is not achieved, the next steps will include RI/FS (2019), PP/ROD (2019), and LUC Implementation Plan/LUC Implementation (2020).

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Ordnance Area 1 MRA

1955 Historical Aerial Photograph

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Mock Village MRA

• General Information – A 1.9-acre MRA used for urban combat training that reportedly utilized 0.30-caliber blank rounds, explosives/ pyrotechnics, and hand grenades in the 1940s.

• Current Status – CSE Phase II Report was finalized in February 2018.

• Findings – No evidence of MEC, MD, or MC. No unacceptable risks to human health or ecological receptors identified.

• Recommendations – Additional assessment and/or action (i.e., Streamlined RI/FS) is recommended prior to final remediation decision.

• Remaining Steps – RI/FS (2019). PP/ROD (2019). LUC Implementation Plan/LUC Implementation (2020).

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Mock Village MRA

1955 Historical Aerial Photograph

Historical Range Layout

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Old Grenade Courts• General Information – A 44.1-acre MRA used to train in the handling

and throwing of dummy/practice grenades and live grenades in the 1940s-1950s. Practice courts had mock targets. Live courts consisted of throwing trenches and cleared impact areas. A portion of this MRA extends beyond of DoD owned property.

• Current Status – CSE Phase II Report was finalized in February 2018.

• Findings – MRA boundary was expanded prior to CSE Phase II field sampling based on additional research. No evidence of MEC, MD, or MC. MC assessment included explosives in the live-fire courts. No unacceptable risks were identified to human health or ecological receptors. No MEC observed during previous construction activities in this area.

• Recommendations – Additional assessment and/or action (i.e., Streamlined RI/FS is recommended prior to final remediation decision.

• Remaining Steps – RI/FS (2019). PP/ROD (2019/2020). LUC Implementation Plan/LUC Implementation (2020).

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Old Grenade Courts MRA

MC Soil sampling locations at live grenade courts

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

• Former Ammunition Supply Point (FASP) is approximately 58.1 acres in the southwestern portion of Joint Based Cape Cod (JBCC) and was used in the 1940s and 1950s to store ammunitions.

• Late 1950s – The FASP-west (W) area was developed for base residential housing.

• 1960s – Campbell School constructed in FASP-W

• 1960s – Apartment-style housing constructed in FASP-East (E)

• Early 2000 – Residential housing and Campbell School were removed.

• Residential roads and underground utilities are still present.

• Remnants of berms associated with three storage areas still present in FASP-E.

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Former Ammunition Supply Point – General Information

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1943 1955

1966 2007

• The FASP was divided into FASP–E (15.6 acres) and FASP-W (42.5 acres) in the MMRP.

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FASP-W and E

• CSE Phase II Reports completed for FASP-W and E; both recommended no further action (NFA) at the sites.

– No explosive safety hazards or potential sources of MC were identified during the CSE Phase II field work.

– Based on these results, it was determined that no potential source of MEC/MC is present at either the FASP-W or E within the surveyed area.

– Given the historical use of the site as an ammunition supply point (as opposed to a training area), the subsequent redevelopment of the site for base housing and a school, and the subsequent demolition of the housing/school, it is very unlikely that MEC/MC are present at the MRS.

• Regulators approved CSE Phase II for FASP-W and AFCEC submitted a No Further Response Action Planned document

– Awaiting response from EPA on AFCEC letter regarding No Further Action

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FASP-W and E: Findings/Current Status

• Air Force and regulators above project manager level need to resolve investigation requirements for supply points and storage areas with potential for future use.

• Awaiting response from EPA on AFCEC letter regarding MMRP sites.

• If AFCEC cannot close ammunition storage sites with NFA, then LUCs will be instituted in perpetuity.

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NEXT STEPS: Remaining Steps

Questions/Comments?

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AFB Air Force BaseAFCEC Air Force Civil Engineer Center

CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

CSE Comprehensive Site Evaluation

DGM Digital geophysical mappingDMM Discarded military munitionDoD Department of Defense

E EastEE\CA Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis

FASP Former Ammunition Supply PointFS Feasibility Study

HRR Historical Records Review

JBCC Joint Base Cape Cod

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GLOSSARY OF TERMS

LUC Land Use Controls

MMRP Military Munitions Response ProgramMC Munitions constituentsMD Munitions debrisMEC Munitions and explosives of concernMRA Munitions response area

NFA No Further ActionNTCRA Non-Time Critical Removal Action

PAH Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbonsPP Proposed Plan

RI Remedial InvestigationROD Record of Decision

USEPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

W West

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GLOSSARY OF TERMS