Input from Dr. David W. Brown, RAB member
at the 19 October 2005 NSN RAB meeting, as refined 20oct05

Please monitor land erosion, plant cover, and wildlife situations of the NSN cleanup sites

As an agri-resource economist who also has plant and soil sciences background, I urge that the Navy, EPA and RIDEM see to it that there is periodic monitoring of on-land areas of the NSN cleanup sites with respect to exposure to erosion, plant cover, and wildlife. It's not enough just to monitor offshore species like eelgrass and shellfish. All the sites should be included-those with cleanups not yet completed (e.g., Gould Island and the tank farms) as well as those at the post-cleanup stage (e.g., McAllister Point landfill). Possibly some other unused NSN areas not on the cleanup list should be monitored too.

These land spaces add up to a sizeable number of acres and are important components of our area's open spaces. What happens on them affects other places on Aquidneck and Conanicut Islands as well as the Navy sites themselves. Unrestored cleanup excavations and poor plant cover can bring soil erosion, sedimentation, and polluted water runoff. New tree pests and invasive plants are appearing in the Northeast, and it's important to know about their spread. Certain kinds of birds, animals or micro-organisms may be taking over, or being threatened.

Also, some things may be learned from monitoring that would improve cost-effectiveness for future remedial actions. E.g., can adequate plant cover come from spontaneous growth, or is artificial seeding necessary? How much cutting back is needed to keep woody roots from penetrating the plastic membrane at McAllister Point?

Most other parts of our islands are near residents or accessible to the public. What's happening can be observed. Some aspects are being studied and treated systematically (e.g., invasive species, deer populations, coyote movements). But much of the NSN cleanup area is neither occupied nor accessible.

Navy environmental budget reductions make it appear that the cleanups will be stretched out for more years than had been intended. This makes it even more important that the on-land erosion and habitat situations of all sites be monitored in the meantime.

I'm not calling for intensive, costly monitoring that requires special contractors, precise measurements, and all that. Rapid reconnaissance approaches and informal, but orderly, observations should be fine. Very possibly some staff or student interns in the NSN environmental group could do it.

If these aspects of the sites are already being monitored by the Navy, I ask that we on the RAB be briefed on the situation from time to time, so that we can help keep our communities accurately informed.

This input reflects my feeling that we RAB members should try to offer constructive suggestions in behalf of our communities, Navy-local relations and environmental progress.