Camp Robinson Formerly Used Defense Site Restoration Advisory Board
Meeting #5, AR Game & Fish Clubhouse, Clinton Rd.,
Mayflower, AR
Jan. 21, 2002

  RAB Members Present: Mr. Gary Cates (Acting Community Co-Chair), Project Manager Margaret Morehead (RAB Co-Chair), Mr. Phillip Murphy (Regulatory Agency member), and Mr. Kenny Vernon

 Others:  Ms. Pat Bennett, Mr. Lewis Keeler, Mr. Richard Devine, Ms. Jennifer Wilson, Mr. Gerry Moore, Mr. David Virden, John Martin

 Mr. Gary Cates, who was serving as the Restoration Advisory Board Acting (RAB) Community Co-chair, called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M.  Mr. Cates asked each RAB member to introduce themselves to the group.  *See above for a list of RAB members present. Community Co-chair Kevin Mathis and Mayflower Mayor Franklin Pearce were not able to attend. Ms. Morehead explained that the RAB requirements for a quorum were amended at an earlier meeting.  With the amendment, 4 out of 6 RAB members were defined as a quorum, therefore the four RAB members who were present constituted an official quorum.

 In the first business item, Mr. Gerry Moore of Parsons Engineering Science reported to the group on the current status of the project. Parsons is the contractor selected by the Corps to help implement the ordnance investigation.  Mr. Moore explained that an Engineering Evaluation / Cost Analysis Study was conducted to determine how much and what type of ordnance is at the Camp Robinson FUDS site.  The study determines what risk is posed by the ordnance and carries recommendations for further action.  Two thousand six hundred items with magnetic signatures discovered during the geophysical mapping phase will be dug up to identify what they are.  Two teams of three people each began in several sectors this week.  Other sectors and the North Little Rock Airport will see sampling activity.  During the last of February or the first of March sampling will take place within the central area of the site.  Mr. Moore noted that a handout is available that shows the schedule, as well as a website that is continually updated and a 1-800 number available for those with questions.

 Next, Ms. Morehead asked Ms. Pat Bennett to explain how daytime relocation would be handled.  Ms. Bennett said she could help people if they need a place to stay during the day when sampling is taking place on their property.  Ms. Bennett said she would make arrangements for families to stay with friends or in a hotel, if that is the choice.  The Corps Real Estate Division wants to make sure that everyone has a place to go to and that all special needs are met.  Questionnaires for individuals to list special needs were made available at the meeting.

 During the open discussion portion of the meeting, Mr. Kenny Vernon opened by saying that he wanted to point out how professional and courteous the Parsons crew has been.  Mr. Vernon said that he and Parsons crew will assist anyone who has a need or concern during this process.

 A meeting attendee wanted to know how quickly an individual could get back onto their property if an item is found there.  Mr. Moore said that if an item is located and it is determined safe to move it away, that will be done.  If it is determined that it must be handled in place, sandbag walls will be built up around the area and an explosion will be initiated.  Specific information about what is found on property where sampling is done will be forwarded by Parsons to the Corps of Engineers.  Property owners will have to get the information from the Corps. 

 A meeting attendee wanted to know whether there are any records indicating how much ordnance was expended in Sector 11.  Mr. Moore referred the questioner to Parsons Archive Search Report on the web page, indicating that if any information is available it will be found there.  A follow on question was posed regarding the fact that the Attorney General had been approached because some property deeds for the Camp Robinson area had “Surface Use Only” specifications on them when the land was turned back over to the original landowners.  But in some cases it has been reported and observed that the “Surface Use Only” clause had been dropped by sellers through the years and landowners did not know that former military use meant ordnance might be buried on their land.  Ms. Morehead said the Attorney General’s office did have an interest in the Camp Robinson area and representatives of their office had attended some of the meetings, but there has been no update from them.

 If an inordinate amount of ordnance is found in a particular sector, a questioner asked, will samplers come back and sweep the entire area?  Ms. Morehead said the objective of the current study is to determine (1) what is there, (2) how much is there, (3) is it dangerous and (4) then make a recommendation.  Sweeping the entire area is one potential recommendation. 

 A questioner asked why the Wildlife Management Area was selected for first sampling instead of the area where people live.  Ms. Morehead said that way the ordnance crew starts working together to develop appropriate routines for an area and then moves on to the more difficult areas.  Mr. Moore said that a part of the additional consideration for the residential area is that people have to be relocated.

 Mr. Cates officially adjourned the meeting.