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News Release
March 9, 2004

Open Detonations Planned for Thursday

Camp Edwards, Mass. — Open detonations are scheduled for Thursday, Mar. 11, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., at Camp Edwards on the Massachusetts Military Reservation to destroy five military munitions.

The detonations will be conducted at least one half mile from any residential areas. There is no risk to nearby residents.

The items being destroyed include a 40-millimeter grenade, three 2.36-inch rockets and an 81-millimeter mortar.

The grenade and rockets were found during clearance activities on a former training and defense contractor testing site known as the J-3 Range. The area is being investigated as part of the Impact Area Groundwater Study Program's activities to define and clean up groundwater contamination migrating from the southeast corner of Camp Edwards toward the Snake Pond area.

The mortar was found during the investigation of a former target area in the Central Impact Area.

The five items are being destroyed by open detonation because explosive experts have determined they may contain explosives and are unsafe to move. Safe-to-move items that potentially contain explosives are taken to a safe storage facility for destruction in a contained detonation chamber. Munitions items that do not contain explosives are recycled as scrap.

Following an open detonation, the soil is tested for explosives compounds and if necessary, covered, and scheduled for removal and disposal in accordance with applicable regulations.

For further information on Groundwater Study Program activities, log on to www.groundwaterprogram.org.

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For more information, contact:
Pam Richardson, Groundwater Study Program, (508) 968-5630
Todd Borci, EPA New England Region 1, (617) 918-1358 or (888) 372-7341 ext. 81358
Ellie Grillo, MADEP Community Involvement Coordinator, (508) 946-2866

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