otis air national guard base/camp edwards

OTIS AFB HERBERT RD

The Otis Air National Guard Base/Camp Edwards site covers approximately 22,000 acres and is more commonly known as the Joint Base Cape Cod (as of July 2013 and formerly known as the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR)). Although the occupants and property boundaries have changed several times since JBCC was established in 1935, the primary mission has always been to provide training and housing to Air Force and/or Army units. A review of past and present operations and waste disposal practices identified numerous potentially contaminated areas, including several areas located on the southern portion of JBCC. These contaminated areas are the result of historic chemical/fuel spills, fire training activities, landfills, and drainage structures. Additionally, effluent from the former sewage treatment plant was historically discharged into sand beds where it seeped into the groundwater. In 1984, the U.S. Geological Survey detected contaminants in monitoring wells downgradient of this former plant. In 1983 and 1984, the Air Force detected volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in on-site monitoring wells near the Base Landfill and a Fire Training Area. Monitoring had also detected VOCs in several hundred private wells (all of which are now on municipal water) and in one town well (which is shut down). The EPA has designated the Sagamore Lens underlying JBCC as a sole source aquifer under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Numerous remediation projects addressing both the soil and groundwater contamination at JBCC have been implemented since the mid to late 1990's. Approximately 100,000 tons of soil have been treated at JBCC, while to date, there are numerous treatment plants in place which treat approximately 11.5 million gallons a day (as of 1/15) of contaminated groundwater. All treated groundwater is returned to the aquifer or discharged to surface water. There is also another investigation and cleanup program at JBCC which is under the authority of Safe Drinking Water Act Administrative Orders. The Army is the lead agency in conducting this program which is known as the Impact Area Groundwater Study Program. This work is separate from the ongoing Superfund work, however it is coordinated within the EPA, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and the JBCC. For more information, see http://mmr-iagwsp.org

Hazardous Ranking Score

46 / 100

A score of 28.5 or higher qualifies a site for the Superfund National Priority List.

Regional Contact

Region 1
Phone: (888) 372-7341
Fax: (617) 918-0101

Outside New England:
(617) 918-1111

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Timeline

Discovery
Site Inspection
Preliminary Assessment
Final Listing On NPL
Removal

Contaminants & Health Effects

      Carcinogen
      Endocrine Disrupter
      Neurotoxic
      Sensitiser
      Reproductive Toxin
      Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic
      VOC
      Mutagen

        Census

        White
        African American
        Asian
        American Indian and Alaska Native
        Native Hawaiian
        Other

        100

        People living
        within a 1 mile radius

        $47,062

        Average Income

        36

        Occupied homes

        Potentially Responsible Parties

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