All News Releases By Date

MMR: Sandwich Representation Needed for the Impact Area Review Team

Release Date: 02/25/04
Contact Information: Contact: Alice Kaufman, EPA Community Involvement Office, (617) 918-1064

For Immediate Release: February 25, 2004; Release # 04-02-13

Boston, MA. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking citizens from Sandwich, Massachusetts, to serve on EPA’s Impact Area Review Team (IART) overseeing the cleanup at the Massachusetts Military Reservation on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

EPA established the Impact Area Review Team in 1997 to provide a forum for local citizens to assist EPA in ensuring a thorough and timely investigation and cleanup of Camp Edwards. The IART consists of citizen volunteers from the Upper Cape towns, and includes representatives from federal and state regulatory agencies, the National Guard Bureau, and other military organizations at the Massachusetts Military Reservation. There is currently one Sandwich citizen on the team. The IART meets regularly on the fourth Tuesday evening of each month at various locations in Bourne, Sandwich, Mashpee, and Falmouth.

As members of the IART, citizens can provide feedback on investigation and cleanup decisions, help evaluate the progress of cleanups, and recommend approaches to keep the public informed and involved. EPA established the IART under a 1997 Administrative Order which compels the military to abate the threat to public health presented by the past and present contamination from the MMR Impact Area and Training ranges, and a citizen member’s commitment to this goal is necessary. A scientific or technical background is helpful, but not required. Sandwich residents near the MMR boundary who may be potentially affected by contamination released from the base are encouraged to seek membership on the IART.

Sandwich citizens interested in becoming an IART member are encouraged to attend an upcoming meeting to get a sense of the work and time commitment involved in being on the team. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 23 at 6:00 p.m. at the Falmouth Holiday Inn, 291 Jones Road in Falmouth. The April meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 27 at the Quashnet Valley Country Club, 309 Old Barnstable Road in Mashpee. Interested citizens will also be requested to attend the IART meeting on April 27 to introduce themselves to the current team members.

To be considered for membership, submit a brief membership application by April 16, 2004. Applications are available by contacting Jim Murphy, EPA’s Community Involvement Coordinator at 617-918-1028, or toll-free at 1-888-372-7341, extension 81028, or by e-mail at murphy.jim@epa.gov. The membership application is also available on the EPA website at www.epa.gov/NE/mmr/ and on the website of the Impact Area Groundwater Study Program at www.groundwaterprogram.org .