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News Release
October 6, 2003

Two Military Munitions Scheduled for Open Detonation on Wednesday

Camp Edwards, Mass. — Two military munitions items will be destroyed in open detonations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Wednesday, at Camp Edwards on the Massachusetts Military Reservation. The detonations will be at least one-half mile from any residential areas and do not represent a risk to nearby residents.

The items being destroyed include a 4.2-inch mortar round and a 40-millimeter grenade. The mortar round was found at the area known as Demolition Area 1 during preparation for an interim soil cleanup action proposed by the Impact Area Groundwater Study Program. The Groundwater Study Program currently is removing all unexploded munitions and related items from the Demolition Area 1 site in preparation for the excavation and treatment of 25,000 tons of contaminated or potentially contaminated soil that may be contributing to groundwater contamination. Demolition Area 1 was formerly used for munitions burning and detonation.

The grenade was found on former training and defense contractor testing area known as the J-3 Range. This item was discovered during clearance for a new road being built to access a target area used for training during World War II. This area is the site of a current Groundwater Study Program investigation.

The mortar round and grenade are being destroyed by open detonations because explosive experts have determined that they 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.

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

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For more information, contact:
Christine Dolen, Groundwater Study Program, (508) 968-5629
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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