An underground water source
This document provides information on the National Guard Bureau Impact Area Groundwater Study Program's agreement with the Town of Sandwich regarding notifications of potential discoveries of unexploded ordnance near the MMR/Sandwich border. The National Guard Bureau established the Impact Area Groundwater Study Program in 1997 to assess and clean up the impacts of certain types of historic training activities conducted at the Camp Edwards' Impact Area and training ranges. Camp Edwards is part of the Massachusetts Military Reservation located on Cape Cod. The 15,000 acres of Camp Edwards lie above the Upper Cape's primary drinking water resource, called the Sagamore Lens. Protection of this aquifer is the primary goal of the Guard Bureau's program. Work is being conducted with oversight from the Environment Protection Agency and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. For More Information Contact:Groundwater Study Prgm. Copies of the Sandwich Notification Protocol are available at Sandwich Town Hall and Upper Cape Libraries, or by calling the Groundwater Study Office. A public meeting, called the Impact Area Review Team, is held on the last Tuesday of each month, bringing together regulatory agencies, citizen representatives, technical experts, and others to update the community on the groundwater cleanup program. The public is welcome to attend. Contacts:Pamela Richardson, Impact Area Groundwater Study Program, 1-508-968-5630 Jim Murphy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1-888-372-7341 ext. 81028 Ellie Grillo, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Community Involvement 1-508-946-2866 | Sandwich Notification ProtocolReport to the Community Fact Sheet 2002-01 Sharing a border: MMR and the Town of Sandwich As a result of investigations in the Southeast Corner, Groundwater Study personnel began to identify and uncover significant numbers of unexploded ordnance, most of which were inert and were buried approximately 3 feet below ground surface. Unexploded ordnance (UXO) is any military munition that has been prepared for action and fired, yet remain unexploded and constitutes a hazard. UXO consists of these same items after they are prepared for action, launched or otherwise fired, or remain unexploded either through malfunction or design. Sandwich Notification Protocol After several meetings, an agreement was reached that requires the Guard's Groundwater Study Program to notify officials and/or school personnel when the fragmentation radius of a detected UXO falls within a "buffer zone" extending 500 feet from the Sandwich border into Camp Edwards. Called the "Sandwich Notification Protocol", this agreement has been strictly followed by the Groundwater Study Program since October of 2000. If field technicians detect ordnance, they map out a potential "fragmentation radius" which conservatively estimates the furthest an exploded item may project. If the estimated radius falls within the agreed upon buffer zone, then the notification protocol is activated. It may require notifying the neighborhood, the school or both. When an open detonation, called a "Blow-in-Place" event, is necessary and triggers the Sandwich Notification Protocol, extensive engineering controls are implemented to ensure all blast fragments are contained beneath the protective barrier. Technicians managing the event use controls including 2 feet of sandbagging, placement of plywood sheathing and steel plate buffers. Post blast, soil is collected and tested for any explosive residue. Contaminated soils if any, are removed and properly disposed of. Program personnel are responsible for notifying the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, the Forestdale School Principal (if the discovery indicates), and the Town Administrator. If school notification is indicated, notices are prepared for all students to bring home that explain the nature of the discovery. There are no detonations or moving of munitions during school hours. |
Administrative Notice |