Concord Journal
November 14, 2002

Letter: Fight expansion with your feet

The communities of Concord, Lexington, Lincoln and Bedford showed in sheer numbers last Thursday how significant stopping Hanscom expansion is to all of us. Some 800 residents and activists turned out in Bedford to the MEPA state environmental hearing scheduled to discuss what Hanscom might look like in 20 years. The turnout was overwhelming, such that the fire department had to shut the meeting down. I am very proud to be part of a town that votes with its feet instead of watching by the sidelines.

But we can't stop there. The meeting has been rescheduled to Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. in the Bedford High School Auditorium, Mudge Way, Bedford. I challenge those who tried to attend last week, to attend again and bring at least one friend. And I challenge those who did not attend, to vote with your feet -- come make your voices heard. Come ask questions like, why should Hanscom become a major commercial airport? Why should Minute Man National Historical Park be sacrificed to suit Massport's growth whims? Why should air cargo such as FedEx or UPS be encouraged to operate from Hanscom, adding substantially to the amount of noise and traffic these towns and this National Park already bear?

Please, if you care about the future of Concord, come to this meeting. Let's fill the auditorium.

Sarah Lazarus
ShhAir Board Member
Revolutionary Road

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Lincoln Journal
November 14, 2002

Letter: Call to attend meeting sounded

On Nov. 7, hundreds and hundreds of the citizens of our communities made their presence felt at the MEPA environmental hearings on Hanscom expansion.

The overflow crowd forced postponement of the hearing. On Nov. 19 they should return and ask the tough questions: "Who wants to turn Hanscom into a major commercial jetport?" "Why are night cargo flights being planned?" "Why should sacred historic sites like Meriam's Corner and so many others be sacrificed to commercialization?"

The questions go on and on, and so will our community protests, until a cap is placed on Hanscom expansion. Every citizen should come again, and bring a friend, to the rescheduled hearings on Tuesday, Nov.19 at 7 p.m. at the Bedford High School.

Jim Henderson

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Boston Globe
November 14, 2002

Crowd expected at Hanscom hearing

By Davis Bushnell, Globe correspondent

BEDFORD -- Several hundred residents are expected to attend the last of a series of public hearings here Tuesday on a draft of a 2005-2015 evironmental impact study on Hanscom Field. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m.in the auditorium of Bedford High School, 9 Mudge Way, in the center of town.

A week ago, fire officials turned away people when it became apparent that the 200-seat capacity of the Town Hall auditorium would be exceeded. The meeting then was halted and rescheduled for Nov. 19 at the high school auditorium, which can accommodate 600 people. An overflow could be diverted to high school meeting rooms that are wired for closed-circuit television.

The previous nine meetings on the study's draft were sparsely attended, but interest has been building for the final session, which will be run by William Gage, an administrator of the Massachusetts Enviromental Policy Act, also called MEPA.

Gage will answer questions about the study's draft, which was prepared for the Massachusets Port Authority by a consulting firm, Rizzo Associatesof Boston.

Many residents of Bedford, Concord, Lexington, and Lincoln, the four communities surrounding the airfield, have voiced concerns about preliminary data, which, they charge, minimize the future effect of commercial and corporate jet activity on noise levels, air quality, and roadways.

Massport spokesman Richard Walsh has said, "Residents need to share all their concerns with Bill Gage."

Residents also may submit to the MEPA office, in writing, their views of the preliminary study before the comment period ends on Nov. 26.

By the end of the year, the state Executive Offie of Environmental Affairs is expected to issue a certificate indicating whether Massport has to make any changes in the study.

Whether changes have to be made or not, Massport is prepared to file with the environmental affairs office a final environmental status and planning report on Hanscom by mid-2003, Walsh said.

The state requires an environmental report to be filed on Hanscom every five years.

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