Lincoln Journal
Thursday, April 4, 2002

Massport funds consultant for Hanscom Field review

By BARBARA FORSTER
CORRESPONDENT

The Massachusetts Port Authority’s Board of Directors approved funding last week for a consultant to advise the four Hanscom communities on the upcoming comprehensive environmental review of Hanscom Field.

Approval was expected last month, but the board declined to act on the $85,000 request.

In the last environmental review, Massport picked up the tab for the towns’ consultants at a rate of approximately 10 percent of the entire project cost. About a year ago, Massport representatives made a similar offer for this year’s review.

The letter of agreement goes into effect April 1, although some language tweaking continues. The Hanscom Area Towns Committee wants to adjust a clause in the agreement that prohibits payments for out-of-state travel.

Massport representative Richard Walsh described the paragraph as " boiler plate " because of other experiences with travel expenses, but Hanscom Area Towns Committee members argue that because the " best " resource in various areas could be out of the region that prohibition unfairly hampers the towns ’ efforts to do the work.

As part of the agreement, Hanscom communities pick up any amounts that go over the $85,000 limit. Therefore, noted Lincoln Selectman Sara Mattes, managing the funds wisely is in the town’s best interest and makes the clause unnecessary.

The Hanscom committee plans to submit alternate language.

Boston-Maine

Boston-Maine Airways’ interest in flying out of Hanscom Field appears to be alive, despite Massport’s position that an environmental review must take place before their planes take off. The airline recently asked Massport to " clarify " that position.

The airline proposed two flights — 19-seater planes — to Atlantic City with continuous service to Baltimore and Washington and five flights to Westchester. But the additional service would break the 48 limit currently in place.

The number is magical because previous environmental studies were conducted using 48 as the maximum number of commercial flights. Until a new environmental review is conducted, Massport is keeping to the 48 limit.

Boston-Maine, which originally expressed interest in Hanscom last year, has received certification from the Federal Aviation Administration but has not yet received an amended " OpSpecs. "

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