Bedford Minuteman
January 30, 2003

Environmental study to be completed by May

By Barbara Forster / Correspondent

On Thursday, Jan. 23, the Hanscom Area Towns Committee learned that Massport is in the final stages of completing an environmental study of Hanscom Field. The agency received the go-ahead on the draft version of the document last month from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs.

How the final document is distributed to groups and individuals who commented on the draft was on the agenda, too. MEPA wants Massport to contact everyone who commented to determine in which format the final document is desired at least 30 days before the document is finished. At the meeting, Tom Ennis of Massport who heads the project, stated that current plans are to send out CD-ROMS with letters stating that hard copies are available.

"If we send a letter asking what people want, it's an extra step," said Richard Walsh of Massport after the meeting. "And if someone forgets to respond, that means a communication breakdown."

However, Walsh noted that if agencies do not comply with MEPA's specific instructions, they must explain their actions.

According Ennis, the document should be completed by the end of May. The agency plans to ask MEPA to extend the usual 30-day public comment period to 45 days. If the state agrees, the final document could be approved by the end of July.

In addition to a public meeting on the final document held by Massport, MEPA will hold a public hearing sometime during the months of June and July.

In the meantime, Massport is working to comply with specific requirements MEPA issued last month such as identifying and describing the National Park Service's soundscape goals and plans for Minute Man National Historical Park. Massport also needs to redo the boundaries for the park and the identification and mapping of historic properties, including all significant structures. Ennis plans to meet soon with park officials.

MEPA also wants a separate chapter on mitigation measures that summarizes actions described for issues such as noise abatement and traffic management programs. According to MEPA, Massport "did not provide enough specific mitigation measures to adequately address impacts."



Noise Addressed
Stating that "the greatest number of comments focuses on noise impacts, and on dissatisfaction with standard noise metrics (which are universally employed for environmental review across the commonwealth and the nation), MEPA wants Massport to explain why the Noise Metric recommendations made by the Noise Workgroup were not incorporated into this study.

The issues of engine run-ups and past noise trends must also be included in the final document.

The study, officially known as the Environmental Status and Planning Report, is submitted to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs for review. The document is designed to present an overview of current environmental conditions at the field and use that information to determine policies and programs.

As a state agency, Massport is required to periodically submit a report for public review on the environmental impacts of its operations and resulting mitigations.

De-Icing Study Under Way

Ennis also reported that a study of de-icing products for the runways at Hanscom Field is under way. Currently only sand is used on runways and ramps. De-icing products are used on planes, however.

"Once the report is back, then we will decide on the next step - what kind of analysis to use, test or modeling," added Ennis.

De-icing does not fall under MEPA review but is covered by Department of Environment regulations.

The last study on de-icing products for Hanscom was done about 10 years ago.

"The technology and products have changed since then," added Ennis.

Lincoln Selectman Sarah Mattes asked that a list of the products being studied be made available to the towns' conservation commissions so they could get a head start on research.

The report is expected to be finished in a week or two.

In commenting on the ESPR, the Environmental Subcommittee which reviewed the document on behalf of the four Hanscom communities, noted the absence of any analysis of de-icing products.

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