Pope Seeks Restoration Alternatives Published May 28, 2009 By 43rd Civil Engineer Squadron POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Pope has placed the Draft Feasibility Study Reports for Environmental Restoration Program Site SS018 into the Cumberland County Public Library located at 300 Maiden Lane for review and comment. The Air Force requests that any questions or comments be provided by June 30. The Environmental Restoration Program is a comprehensive environmental investigation and clean up program used by the Air Force to identify and evaluate past disposal and spill sites. The extent of SS018 includes the area west and north of the Lox Street facility to the base boundary and Manchester Road, the industrial area northeast and east of the Lox Street facility to the Blue Ramp, and the wooded area south and southwest to the unnamed tributary, which flows into the Little River. Farther south and southwest of the unnamed tributary is a large, low-lying, wooded wetland area. Site SS004, now included administratively together with SS018, is located at the corner of Manchester and Fortress Streets, and immediately west of the flightline. The central portion of Site SS018 is located in the general vicinity of Lox Street and includes a liquid oxygen (LOX)/nitrogen refueling station. Site SS018 was designated an ERP site based on the detection of chlorinated hydrocarbons in groundwater monitoring wells associated with the investigation of the nearby Blue Ramp fuel spill site (SS007). No documented release of chlorinated hydrocarbons is known to have occurred at the Lox Street facility. Site SS018 was determined to include the Lox Street facility and the industrial area to the east and north based on initial groundwater sampling results from the Site SS007 investigation. The Feasibility Study compares alternatives to control potential future risks to human health and the environment. It provides a comparative analysis of multiple remedies using seven Environmental Protection Agency criteria: - Overall protection of human health and the environment - Compliance with applicable regulations - Long-term effectiveness - Reduction of toxicity, mobility or volume of contamination - Short-term effectiveness - Implement ability - Cost The recommended alternative in the Feasibility Study report for SS018 includes both Institutional Controls and Long Term Monitoring, as the recommended remedial. This remedy would place controls on future development to prevent exposure to site contaminants and provide detection of potential additional releases from the waste in place. The Air Force will consider State and community acceptance prior to selecting the final remedy. Citizens may provide comments or express interest in attending a public meeting on the Feasibility Studies by writing or phoning the Pope Public Affairs Office. If there is sufficient community interest, the Air Force will schedule and announce a meeting. The Air Force will provide a response to all received comments in the Responsiveness Summary of the final Feasibility Study Report. The complete Administrative Record of historical actions regarding the Environmental Restoration Program is available for public review at Pope. To provide comments or ask questions, call the Pope Public Affairs Office at (910) 394-4183.