Tupelo — The National Park Service on Friday released an Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis that details environmental conditions and cleanup options for the former Ridgeland Firing Range along the Natchez Trace Parkway and opened a 30-day public comment period, the agency said.
The report outlines possible contamination at the site, presents a recommended plan for addressing it and is accompanied by an administrative record file containing documents and data used to develop the analysis, the NPS said.
The firing range operated from 1984 to 2002 in Ridgeland. The agency said it is addressing the site under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, the federal law governing cleanup of hazardous substances. The evaluation assesses the nature and extent of contamination, potential risks to public health and the environment, and possible cleanup alternatives. The effort is being conducted as a non-time critical removal action, which means officials have at least six months to plan before cleanup activities begin.
The public can review the report and administrative record online at parkplanning.nps.gov/RidgelandRange or in person at the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center, 2680 Natchez Trace Parkway in Tupelo, during regular business hours Monday through Friday. Comments will be accepted April 3 through May 3 and can be submitted through the project website. Requests to extend the comment period by 15 days must be submitted before May 3 via email to [email protected]. The NPS said all comments will become part of the public record and that it cannot guarantee confidentiality for personal identifying information. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
