CONCORD, Mass. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, with assistance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Huntsville District Military Munitions Design Center, and their contractor, UXB International, have developed for review and public comment a Proposed Plan for the South Beach Moving Target Machine Gun Range Formerly Used Defense Site in Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.
A public meeting to discuss the plan was held June 24 in Edgartown and public comments on the Proposed Plan are due by July 17, 2015.
The Proposed Plan is available for review at the Edgartown Public Library and on the Corps website at: www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/ProjectsTopics/MarthasVineyardRIFS.aspx.
The South Beach site was used as a gunnery and rocket firing range for the 1st Naval District flight training program at Naval Air Station Quonset Point, Rhode Island, and Navy Auxiliary Air Station Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., between 1943 and 1947. Military practice ordnance was used at the site.
Since the end of military operations in 1947, numerous discoveries of munitions have been identified at the site by local residents, town of Edgartown employees and visitors. Over the past several years, the Corps of Engineers has completed an investigation of the potential explosives safety, health, and environmental issues resulting from past munitions use at the site. The Proposed Plan describes the remedial alternatives considered for this site and identifies the preferred alternative.
The public can review the Proposed Plan for the South Beach Moving Target Machine Gun Range Formerly Used Defense Site and provide comments by July 17, 2015 to the government via the government’s contractor, UXB International and their subcontractor, Amec Foster Wheeler Environmental and Infrastructure, Inc. Comments can be submitted by mail to: Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure, Inc., ATTN: Ms. Donna Sharp, 9725 Cogdill Road, Knoxville, Tennessee 37932 or by email to donna.sharp@amecfw.com.
Questions or concerns regarding this project can be directed to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Project Manager, Ms. Carol Ann Charette at 978-318-8605 (office) or 978-505-2918 (cell).