Proposed machine-gun range gets another public airing
The proposed multi-purpose machine-gun range at Joint Base Cape Cod continues as a contentious issue. Citing military necessity, some embrace the project, while others call for further environmental studies or outright suspension of the project.
The Falmouth Select Board hosted a public forum last Thursday to continue the debate, which included presentations by the Massachusetts Army National Guard, 350 Cape Cod and other environmental activists and public comments.
In a significant development prior to the forum, the federal Environmental Protection Agency announced Aug. 14 it will review the proposed machine gun range and the potential risks it may pose to public drinking water.
Base officials say range essential for training, has won key approvals
The presentation by the Massachusetts Army National Guard focused on the need for the gun range, the regulations the base has had to adhere to through as part of its process, as well as its commitment to environmental conservation.
The National Guard says the $11.5 million machine-gun range is needed for weapons training, regulatory requirements and habitat management.
Major Alex McDonough said soldiers need to complete core and job-specific training events to meet training requirements and be eligible for promotions.
Phase 1 of the proposed construction would require the clearing of 108 acres of land —30 existing acres will also be used.
McDonough said the project received a permit from the state Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, a certificate from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs — that the project complied with the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act — and had a finding of no significant impact as part of the process of meeting the National Environmental Policy Act. A review by National Guard Bureau and the Department of the Army also led to findings of no significant impact.
Jake McCumber, manager of the natural resource and training lands program for the Massachusetts Army National Guard, spoke about the conservation requirements for the machine-gun range.
He also spoke about the greenhouse gas analysis done as part of the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act process, which found the emissions and carbon release from the clearing of trees would be mitigated by land preservation, forestry management and activities specific to the gun range.
Col. Matthew Porter said that small arms ranges do not contaminate groundwater, and that the range is necessary for the Army and National Guard. He said he knows there is a history of contamination on the base, but that the base has been working hard to fix that issue.
350 Cape Cod: Worries about drinking water, pollution
Rosemary Carey of 350 Cape Cod said her group is calling for a suspension of the project until an independent Environmental Impact Study is completed. She said the Joint Base is the largest piece of land on the Cape that is undisturbed.
Carey said there were things missing from the conversation about the gun range, including the fact the towns of Mashpee, Falmouth, Bourne, Barnstable and Yarmouth receive drinking water from a sole-source aquifer called the Sagamore Lens.
She also said Joint Base Cape Cod was designated a SuperFund site in 1989, which cost taxpayers nearly $1.5 billion.
She said Cape Cod 350’s top concerns are: water quality, air and soil contamination, climate impacts, habitat protection, noise pollution/health impacts, socio-economic and cultural impacts and lack of necessity.
Mon Cochran, vice president of the Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative, said the carbon emissions from the cutting of trees was understated, as were adverse effects to habitat and noise issues.
Activist Ella Sampou asked the Falmouth Select Board for two things: to call for an Environmental Impact Statement to be conducted and that the project be suspended, and a letter of opposition sent to Gov. Charlie Baker.
“Hyper-ventilating" by environmental extremists
Some of the public commenters said they were concerned with the safety of the water supply and environmental impacts of the range, while others were vehemently supportive of the range.
Adam Lange, of Brewster, said that environmental extremists were “hyper-ventilating,” and that what was being built was a gun range on a military installation and not a nuclear power plant in Cape Cod Bay.
Another speaker said she supports the gun range so that the military can continue to protect citizens.
Tom Weaver asked why the military couldn’t just use simulations for training.
Another woman, who did not give her name, said she felt a range could be built elsewhere, not on top of an aquifer.
What's next for Falmouth Select Board?
Douglas Brown, chair of the Falmouth Select Board, said that although a lot of the questions he had were adequately answered, he still has more, especially about the EPA aquifer review.
EPA to review proposed machine-gun range at Joint Base Cape Cod
Brown said the Select Board will be taking public comment over the next couple of weeks, and at their Sept. 13 meeting will either take a vote on recommending the project or decide that they need more time to review.
“I’m still sitting with the information from both presentations,” said Nancy Taylor, vice chair of the Falmouth Select Board. Taylor also said that she hopes that people who didn't attend the forum watch it. It can be viewed here: fctv.org/v3/vod/joint-base-cape-cod-machine-gun-range-forum-august-26-2021
No comments:
Post a Comment