BRUNSWICK
Investigators from the U.S. Navy, armed with metal detectors, will be in the area of the Brunswick Town Commons next week, according to Brunswick Interim Town Manager John Eldridge. Starting Oct. 7, the personnel will be searching for debris linked to a quarry at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station.
The quarry, which lies to the east of Route 123, across from the Town Commons, contains “landfilled materials and other miscellaneous debris typical of Navy operations from the past,” according to a fact sheet produced by the Navy and emailed to town officials and media outlets by Eldridge on Wednesday.
The investigation is expected to last about two weeks.
“Besides the landfilled materials, the Navy has spent the last several years assessing and cleaning up small discarded military items from training and disposal activities at the quarry,” according to the fact sheet.
Those items include metal fragments, flares and small fuzes “similar in size and effects to a larger firecracker.”
Intact or partially intact charges used to dispense items from aircraft, fuze components, and aircraft rocket parts have been found within the quarry area.
“Therefore, there is a remote possibility that such items could be west of Harpswell Road,” according to the fact sheet.
Few items have been found west toward Route 123, but there is a “low probability” of finding discarded military items “due to the uncertainties associated with the historical uses of the quarry.”
As a result, the Navy is searching the Town Commons as well.
Any items discovered that could pose a danger will be addressed by the Navy after the town is notified.
A safe-zone of about 150 feet will be maintained between potential munition items and the public and non-essential personnel.
“If someone were to be passing through the woods near the ongoing operation, the work would be suspended until the safe distance is restored,” according to the fact sheet.
“There is no reason to consider this area a hazard,” according to the fact sheet. “If munitions items similar to those found within the quarry exist on the property, they are not easily detonated, and are likely to be buried in the forest floor duff and shallow surface soil.”
Some tree trimming might be done but there will be no widespread vegetation cutting.
According to the fact sheet, fragments from detonated items may be discovered, which the Navy said are not a cause for concern. The Navy also expects to find cans, scraps of fencing, wire, nuts, bolts and other debris.
The Navy’s investigation is being overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.
The former quarry has been a site under analysis to determine what, if any, remediation is possible for that area to be transferred from the Navy for civilian use.
This year, the Navy had planned on conducting groundwater studies at the quarry.
There were 26 total acres “of concern” on the former base, according to the Navy, that were identified for environmental investigation, according to a 2010 report.
The town’s website refers to the Town Commons as an “historic 71- acre wooded park” enjoyed for hiking, dog walking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and bird watching. The area features a pitch pine heath barren that the site describes as “a rare plant community in Maine.”
jswinconeck@timesrecord.com
Quarry & Commons
THE QUARRY, which lies to the east of Route 123, across from the Town Commons, contains “landfilled materials and other miscellaneous debris typical of Navy operations from the past,” according to a fact sheet produced by the Navy.
BRUNSWICK’S WEBSITE refers to the Town Commons as an “historic 71-acre wooded park” enjoyed for hiking, dog walking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and bird watching. The area features a pitch pine heath barren that the site describes as “a rare plant community in Maine.”
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