The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District manages three Munitions Response Sites (MRSs) on Martha’s Vineyard: the former Cape Poge Little Neck Bomb Target Site, the former Moving Target Machine Gun Range and Bomb Target Site at South Beach and the former Tisbury Great Pond Bomb Site and Gunnery Range. These sites are managed under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA),consistent with the National Contingency Plan (NCP) and considering the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Department of Defense (DoD) and the Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) policies. Site background is provided below for each MRS site, and detailed reports and documentation are found to the right under “Related Documents”.
The former Cape Poge Little Neck Bombing Target Site is located on Chappaquiddick Island in the Town of Edgartown, Dukes County, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. Between 1944 and 1947, the Site was used for day and night practice bombing activities using water-filled bombs, miniature practice bombs, and flares. The practice bombs were used with signals or spotting charges to allow the pilots to observe bombing accuracy. Multiple investigations have been conducted at the Site, including a Preliminary Assessment (PA) in February 2009, a Time Critical Removal Action (TCRA) conducted between April and September 2009, and a Remedial Investigation (RI) in 2014 . The RI delineated the site into three Munitions Response Sites (MRSs): Land MRS 1, Water MRS 2, uncontaminated lands MRS 3. The subsequent Decision Document concluded that the Selected Remedy for the Land and water MRSs was subsurface clearance. No hazards nor risks were identified for the Remaining Lands (MRS 3), therefore No Action was required at this MRS. The Remedial Action (RA), which executed the Selected Remedy, occurred between 2015 and 2019. The RA Report concluded that the remedial objectives were achieved, although further discovery of munitions items occurred after this point and USACEs is currently planning to submit an Explanation of Significant Difference (ESD) to modify the Remedial Decision, to keep the site in Long Term Monitoring (LTM) indefinitely. LTM will consist of continuing the Land Use Controls (LUCs) identified in the Decision Document. Specifically, the LUCs consist of distribution of explosives safety educations materials to property owners, local responders and Town Officials as well as installation and maintenance of signage at access points to the MRSs and annual training for property owners, local responders and Town officials.
The former Moving Target Machine Gun Range and Bomb Target Site is located within the Town of Edgartown, Dukes County, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. In 1944, the Department of the Navy acquired leases on approximately 264 acres at South Beach. Pilots from the training program at Naval Air Station Quonset Point, Rhode Island and Navy Auxiliary Air Station, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts used two rocket targets to practice their rocket firing skills. Multiple investigations were conducted at this site: unexploded ordnance (UXO) removal actions in 1988 and 1999, TCRA in 2009, emergency response actions 2008-2012 and a RI completed in 2010-2011. A site Decision Document was established for MRS 1 (695 acres of inland water, upland brush and grass, dunes and beach) establishing and maintaining Land Use Controls in perpetuity. The LUCs are the same as those for Cape Poge. This site is now under LTM. MRS 2 (remaining ocean) required no remedial action.
The former Tisbury Great Pond Bomb Site and Gunnery Range is located within the town of West Tisbury, Dukes County, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. Between 1943 and 1957 the area was used as a practice dive bombing and strafing range utilized by the training program at Quonset Point and Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Martha’s Vineyard. The site is delineated into two MRS’s. Tisbury Great Pond MRS 1 is about 123 acres of contaminated land, inland water and ocean. The Remaining land and water MRS (project 2) is about 959 acres of uncontaminated land and water. Response actions include implementation of land use controls in 2014 and remedial actions from 2017-present. The Decision Document Selected Remedy was subsurface clearance and installation of land use controls. Similar to the Cape Poge Site, continued discovery of MEC items after clearance made it clear that continuing land use controls would be necessary. Therefore, USACEs is planning on submitting ESD to modify the Remedial Decision, to keep the site in LTM indefinitely. LTM will consist of continuing the LUCs identified in the Decision Document, which are the same as those for Cape Poge.
For more information, please contact the Project Manager (Marie.e.esten@usace.army.mil) or 978-318-8965.
- Updated: 25 MARCH 2024