BRUNSWICK

The Navy may be implementing restrictions on where to dig at a superfund site at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station. The Navy will take public comment Wednesday on a proposal to deal with an explosive ordnance disposal area at the former military base.

This plan was prepared as required by the federal Superfund act, according to a Navy announcement regarding the area known as Site 12.

“ The results of site investigations have shown that releases of chemicals from munitions items disposed of at the site do not present unacceptable risks to human health or the environment, and no further action is required to address chemical contamination,” the Navy stated in its announcement. “Although extensive munitions removal actions have occurred that have eliminated explosive hazards on the ground surface across the entire site and in the subsurface in many areas of the site, the potential exists that munitions items may be present in the subsurface soils at the site. The Navy considered the effectiveness, implementability, and cost of several alternatives when evaluating response actions. Based on the results of this evaluation, implementing land use controls is the Navy’s preferred method for addressing potential munitions hazards at Site 12.”

The public meeting is Wednesday at the Best Western at 71 Gurnet Road, consisting of an informational session from 5-7 p.m., and a public meeting at 7 p.m. where the Navy will accept oral and written comments from the public.

The Navy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Maine Department of Environmental Protection concluded that the proposal is suitable for the protection of health and the environment of the Superfund site, according to Paul Burgio, the Base Closure and Realignment Commission’s environmental coordinator for the former military base.

Site 12, approximately 23 acres according to the proposed plan, is located at the southeast corner of the base and is fenced in. It will be used for recreation and for the trails specifically, Burgio said.

The site is a former munitions area and so there were small munition items detonated there, usually due to safety concerns or during training that was conducted there.

The Navy has spent several years clearing munitions from the site, according to Burgio.

“We’re 100 percent confident the surface is munitions free,” Burgio said.

Below the surface may be another matter. There may still be some munitions below the surface, so the Navy will implement land use controls that will include marking the land as a “no dig” area.

Most of the land is going to the town of Brunswick, and as part of the receipt of the deed will be a requirement that no digging is involved on the property.

Burgio said the Navy has conveyed roughly 85 percent of the base to the town and other entities, including Bowdoin College. The Navy still owns about 15 percent, which consists of the most difficult, environmentally challenging sites. These are areas the Navy is actively trying to clean up. Once an agreement is in place and a record of decision with the regulatory agency, the Navy can deed over the property.

The proposed plan for Site 12 is available for public review on the Department of the Navy BRAC Program Management Office website, www.bracpmo. navy.mil, and also Curtis Memorial Library, located at 23 Pleasant St., in Brunswick. The Navy is accepting comments until Aug. 7.

Public comments submitted in writing must be postmarked or emailed no later than Aug. 7. Questions or comments can be submitted to Burgio at (215) 897- 4903 or fax 215-897-4902; by email at paul. burgio@ navy. mil or write to Mr. Paul Burgio, BRAC PMO East, Building 679, Naval Business Center, 4911 South Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19112- 1303.

dmoore@timesrecord.com

Changeover

THE NAVY has conveyed roughly 85 percent of the base to Brunswick and other entities, including Bowdoin College. The Navy still owns about 15 percent, which consists of the most difficult, environmentally challenging sites. These are areas the Navy is actively trying to clean up. Once an agreement is in place and a record of decision with the regulatory agency, the Navy can deed over the property.