Fort Meade MMRP Remedial Investigation
Baltimore, MD
The challenge
During a preliminary assessment in 1999, the Fort Meade mortar range was identified by ARCADIS/Pirnie as requiring remedial investigation (RI). This finding was further refined during a historical records review and subsequent on-site inspection.
During the inspection, ARCADIS successfully negotiated No Further Action at five of the six Military Munitions Response Program (MMRP) eligible sites; only the mortar range was recommended for additional investigation of munitions constituents (MC) and munitions and explosives of concern (MEC).
The result
The Fort Meade RI at the mortar range was prioritized because Defense
Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC) construction was planned
for the site.
ARCADIS subdivided the mortar range into multiple munitions response sites (MRS), thus narrowing the individual footprints of the areas believed to require active remedial action.
During the post fieldwork technical project planning (TPP) meeting, the regulatory agencies agreed it was possible to consolidate the earlier MRS groupings into two MRS areas: a 259-acre maneuver-and-training area (likely requiring no more than five-year reviews) and a 62-acre mortar range requiring further action (probably construction support and/or remedial action).
Consolidating the site classifications made it possible to confine required remedial action to an area smaller than 20% of the footprint of the mortar range site as originally defined.
An important part of the Fort Meade RI was the public involvement package, because the site was located in the center of the installation and had active tenants.
For this aspect of the project, ARCADIS prepared and distributed brochures and posters to community groups and stakeholders, briefed the Restoration Advisory Board, and informed installation staff and tenants about the demolitions required to dispose of potential MEC. Safety briefs were also provided to tenants working on the former mortar range.