BACSE Action Initiatives, May 2006

The mission of BACSE includes doing education and advocacy with the goal of safeguarding neighbors and residents on the base from exposure to contaminants.

In the past this has been done with newsletters but now it is done via web sites such as this one, hosted by the Curtis Memorial Library, that provides information.

On May 16, BACSE members were invited to a special meeting with the Director of Region #1 of EPA. The attendees included BACSE supporters, a MDEP staff person and a representative from the Naval Base Public Works Department. At the meeting the importance of a newsletter was stressed to more easily communicate with the general public, but also concern that there was no easily accessible information or comprehensive report on the present status of each remediation site that identified:

1. The existing problems

2. The agenda for remediation

and presented this in language that would be understandable by the average reader. BACSE intends to advocate for developing both these initiatives.

Our latest advocacy initiatives, listed below, are the result of observations made on a guided tour of the Naval base and various technical meetings between May 17 and May 23 of 2006.

Action Initiative #1: Use of Treatment Plant Effluent to irrigate playing field

1. In as much as this deficiency was discovered on a guided tour of BNAS on May 17, 2006, and

2. in as much as it was determined that the treatment plant effluent did not meet treatment criteria specified in the BNAS Record of Decision (ROD) for specific pollutants, and

3. in as much as BACSE considers use of playgrounds by US Navy personnel and families as deserving strong protection from contaminants,

BACSE will initiate action that includes: Meeting with the Maine Commissioner of Health and requesting state oversight including use of the State Toxicologist to determine remediation remedies.

Action Initiative #2: Oil sheen in retention pond

1. In as much as this has been on the Technical review committee agenda for approximately 9 months, and

2. in as much as it was observed on a guided tour of BNAS on May 17, 2006, and

3. in as much as this is a violation of pollution control laws, and

4. in as much as not reporting a sheen is a violation of law, and

5. in as much as jurisdictional regulatory agencies have not taken official action,

BACSE will initiate action that includes: Meeting with the Commissioner of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP) and requesting enforcement action.

Action Initiative #3: Institutional Control Boundaries

1. In as much as this has been on the Technical Review Committee agenda for approximately one year, and

2. in as much as it was observed on a guided tour of BNAS on May 17, 2006, and

3. in as much as BNAS personnel now say they cannot proceed without a new base instruction, which is still under development, and

4. because this is a potentially controversial document because of its significance of defining US Navy and Town of Brunswick jurisdiction for future remediation,

BACSE will initiate action that includes: Advocating for implementation under Base Instructions in effect since 1994 at the time of the ROD agreement.