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News Release
October 26, 2004

Munitions Detonations Planned at Camp Edwards

Camp Edwards, Mass. — Open detonations to destroy 42 unexploded munitions items are scheduled between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Thursday at Camp Edwards on the Massachusetts Military Reservation.

The detonations will take place at least one mile from any residential areas. There is no risk to nearby residents.

The items being destroyed include an explosives fuze that was found at a former target in the Central Impact Area. This area is being cleared as part of a cleanup action to remove and treat contaminated soil from around the target. The soil is believed to be a source of groundwater contamination in this area.

These munitions 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.

The other items include three 40-millimeter (mm) grenades and 38 30-mm projectiles. These munitions items were found in the former military training and defense contractor testing site known as the J-2 Range. A soil removal and treatment action designed to remove several areas believed to be the source of groundwater contamination migrating from the J-2 Range also is being completed in this area.

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

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For more information, contact:
Kris Curley, Groundwater Study Program, (508) 968-5626
Todd Borci, EPA New England, (617) 918-1358 or (888) 372-7341 ext. 81358
Ellie Grillo, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, (508) 946-2866

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