EAST PROVIDENCE — An area off Ferris Avenue historically used as a shooting range to train troops through the first half of the 20th Century will soon be remediated of toxic material associated with the bullets dispensed there.

At its meeting Tuesday night, June 7, Department of Public Works Director Dan Borges updated the City Council of a plan being implemented by arms of the federal government to clear some 7.2 acres of land adjacent to the 10-Mile Greenway/Central Pond, next to the Kimberly Ann Rock Little League Complex and behind the Igus Corp. (former Sheldahl) plant in Rumford.

The Army National Guard Directorate, Rhode Island Army National Guard and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will be conducting remedial action at what is referred to by the Defense Department as the “Rumford Rifle Range Munitions Response Site,” a city-owned site under the auspices of the water department.

Borges said ammunition used at the range when it was active between 1896-1946 included significant quantities of lead and had substantially contaminated the soil. The location actually encompasses some 183 acres, the vast majority of which was deemed as safe and without need to be impacted.

In total, the director said the plan is to remove and replace upwards of 19,000 cubic feet of materials, including earth and vegetation. A considerable amount of trees will be taken down, Borges added, but he noted an “extensive replanting plan” is being put in place. As many as 335 trees will be replanted along with some 35 bushes.

Ward 3 Councilor Nate Cahoon was quick to emphasize the decision to take on the project did not come from his body, nor the city administration.

“Just to be clear, this is a federally driven initiative. We do not have a say here. That area must be remediated, end of story,” Cahoon said. “So when people start asking why are trees being cut down? It’s not because the City Council wanted to cut down a bunch of trees. It’s because we need to remediate the property.”

According to a fact sheet issued by the Army National Guard and Corps of Engineers, the range was eventually closed in 1946 due to safety concerns related to “the encroaching residential properties.” Much of what we now know of neighborhoods between Don and Weeden Avenues as well as those from Deer Street to New Road were constructed in the post-World War II suburban boom.

The type of munitions used were small arms (.22, .30, .38, .45, and .50 caliber). The range consisted of 200-, 300-, 500-, 600-, 800-, and 1,000- yard target locations.

Soil testing conducted in 2018 found lead contamination in “19 separate noncontiguous areas that comprise a total of 7.22-acres.”

The initial phase of the project will include the following:

• Mobilization - Includes field staff, equipment, and consumable materials to the site; setup, maintenance, and testing of equipment and facilities; familiarizing project personnel with the site; and safety requirements.
• Surveying – Surveying equipment for marking and surveying excavation areas may include base stations, survey stakes, and survey personnel who will be on site periodically for the duration of the project.
• Erosion and Sediment Controls and Perimeter Fencing – Installation of soil erosion control requirements and perimeter temporary fencing with signs. Erosion control devices and temporary fencing will be constructed around each excavation area to control any precipitation runoff water, notify the public that it is a restricted area, and to restrict wildlife access to those areas.
• Vegetation Clearing – Vegetation and tree removal will be conducted only where necessary to ensure safety of
  personnel and to prepare areas containing contaminated soil for excavation.
• Haul Road Construction –Existing roads will be improved where necessary, pruned of vegetation, and made ready for construction vehicles. A separate entrance for trucks and equipment will be constructed adjacent to the northern ball field parking lot to ensure parking for park patrons is maintained and to allow easier access for larger vehicles.
• Traffic Control – Temporary traffic control measures will be established leading to and on site to ensure workers, truckers, and visitors recognize the entrance as belonging to an active construction site/work zone. The proposed parking area for the Command Post trailer is off the entrance to the Kimberly Ann Rock Athletic Fields and will be clearly marked.
• Overflow parking will be adjacent to the Interplex entrance road. Trucks and construction vehicles will access the site using the northern portion of Ferris Avenue to avoid residential areas, and traffic will be coordinated with the Wolf School to avoid disruptions to school traffic.