Forest Glen Annex comment period extended to Sept. 11

Published June 27, 2014
Expiration date: 9/12/2014

The Army invites community members to attend a public information session to learn more about its proposed alternative to prevent public exposure to medical-type waste and contamination impacting on-site areas near the Forest Glen Annex. These areas are adjacent to Rock Creek Regional Park off Linden Lane just south of I-495 in Silver Spring, MD. 

The Army is proposing installation of a fence around the Ball Field Landfill area outside the current Forest Glen Annex’s security fence line.  The fence will still allow public access to portions of the Ireland Trail, while prohibiting access to the areas where contamination has been found. This includes the wooded western-most portion of the Army property and the upper-reach portion of a stream that flows through the annex and outside its fence line.  

The Army proposes this as the best alternative to address environmental investigation findings of medical-type waste within the installation boundaries, but outside the fence line, in the former Ball Field Landfill area and adjacent stream.  The Army prepared a detailed environmental report (Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis) that looked at preventing public exposure to on-site waste and contamination that is outside the existing fence line.  The alternatives included signs, several different fencing options, and landfill removal or caps. 

Community members are encouraged to review the project documents in the public record and submit comments. The documents are available at the Silver Spring Library at 8901 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD.  The Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis report also can be found by clicking here.

A public meeting was held July 23, 2014 at the Coffield Community Recreation Center in Silver Spring, MD. Based on comments received before and during the meeting, the public comment period has been extended to Sept. 11, 2014. The comment period started June 27, 2014.  Please send written comments to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, P.O. Box 1715, ATTN: CENAB-EN-HM (Russell Marsh), Baltimore, MD 21203 or by email to Russell.E.Marsh@usace.army.mil no later than Sept. 11. 

For additional information, please contact the Fort Detrick Public Affairs Office at 301- 619-2018.  You also can check out the Forest Glen Annex Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/#!/ForestGlenAnnex