BACKGROUND

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is conducting work at the Former Blue Beach Disposal Area Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) using the processes under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), which was enacted by Congress in 1980. This law provides broad Federal authority to respond directly to releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances that may endanger public health or the environment. The FUDS program addresses only Department of Defense (DoD)-generated eligible contamination, which occurred before the transfer of the property to private owners or Federal, state or local governments.

The Former Blue Beach Disposal Area encompasses approximately 21.5 acres in North Kingstown Rhode Island. It is located in the southwestern portion of the Quonset Business Park (formerly the Quonset Point Naval Air Station [NAS]). It is comprised of the Project Area where DoD activities took place that released the contamination, and adjacent properties which were impacted by contamination migrating from the Project Area. These adjacent properties include a walking path, tidal wetland, red maple swamp, red maple creek, and the Blue Beach recreational area. The contamination includes metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) and was the result of the Project Area’s former use as a DoD salvage yard for vehicle parts, machinery, construction debris, and miscellaneous wastes. After it was no longer required for military operations, the area was deactivated and redeveloped for industrial use. It is currently owned by private landowners.

Between 1984 and 2024, multiple investigations were performed at the site to evaluate the presence of chemicals associated with historical site activities and to define the nature and extent of any identified contamination. These efforts are documented in the October 2024 Remedial Investigation Report. The investigation concluded that, although detected contaminants do not currently pose an unacceptable risk, historical DoD activities have affected groundwater that is considered a potential drinking water resource. As a result, a range of remedial action alternatives was assessed in a Feasibility Study to protect and safeguard this groundwater resource.

NEXT STEPS

USACE will propose a remedial alternative to reduce potential human health or environmental risks associated with past DoD activities in a Proposed Plan. USACE will hold a public comment period during which your questions or comments on the Proposed Remedial Plan may be submitted prior to the final remedy selection.  After the public has had an opportunity to review and comment on this Proposed Plan and attend the public meeting, USACE will compile and respond to all comments received during the comment period and hearing in a document known as the Responsiveness Summary. The final selected actions for the project will be documented in a Record of Decision.