Lowell Sun
Saturday, June 14, 2003

Letter: Meehan rebuts Hanscom Field editorial

The National Trust for Historic Preservation recently placed Minute Man National Historical Park and historic sites in the surrounding towns of Concord, Lexington, Lincoln and Bedford on its 2003 list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. This designation was due to past and threatened future expansion of the adjacent civilian airport, the Massachusetts Port Authority's Hanscom Field. I strongly opposed the unchecked expansion of commercial flights at Hanscom because of its effect on this unique environment.

The Sun ("All show, no substance" June 3) questioned my motivations for the position I have taken. I was disappointed by the tone of the editorial and wanted to take this opportunity to explain my views on the importance of protecting Minute Man Park.

As you know, Minute Man National Historical Park includes the North Bridge, where "the shot heard round the world" was fired on April 19, 1775, and the historic Battle Road, scene of that day's bloody running battle from Concord to Boston, which marked the beginning of America's struggle for independence. Within the park and the four adjacent towns are more than 1,000 sites on the National Register of Historic Places, including Henry David Thoreau's Walden Woods and the homes of Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Lousia May Alcott. The park was created in 1959 to protect these sites from unchecked development.

More than two centuries after British soldiers and American militia met in the opening battle of the American Revolution, the national park and its surrounding communities are struggling to protect these irreplaceable resources from Massport's ambitious plans for expanded use of Hanscom Field. Hanscom, already New England's second busiest airport, is subjecting the park and the other historic sites to increasing levels of noise, traffic and visual intrusions.

There is a push to continue increasing the number of unrestricted commercial flights from nearby Hanscom. These flights detrimentally impact the significant environmental and historic properties that are within three miles of the airport. These sites have been aggravated by the tripling of jet flights since 1996 both in terms of the noise pollution and the traffic growth.

The bottomline is that this is no way to treat our heritage.

Every year, more than 1.6 million people from around the world visit these landmark sites to feel a connection with our past, present and future. We all know that once this environment is destroyed, it can never be repaired and it is in grave danger. In fact, I have secured more than $3 million in federal funds for road and trail improvements and land acquisition, all with an eye on preserving the history of this region.

I view it as my responsibility, as the U.S. representative for this region, to protect this unique historic treasure. I am not opposed to air travel at the air field, but when MassPort engages FedEx in discussions about relocating major air shipping services to Hanscom then I will join with historians, environmentalists and local residents in opposition.

The editorial raised other concerns that limiting commercial flights at Hanscom will endanger the future of the Air Force's Electronic System Center. As you know, in 2005, the Department of Defense will conduct a Base Realignment and Closure round to do away with excess military facilities. The reality is that unchecked growth at the air field threatens the future of the ESC. As the home of the Air Force's Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaisance programs, the ESC provides our military with cutting edge information technology and intelligence tools that have provided stunning battlefield advantages recently in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It is a unique facility that benefits from the rich academic research and technology base of New England. Indeed the ESC reciprocates with a direct economic impact of $3.2 billion and over 20,000 jobs on the Massachusetts economy.

In an ideal world, Hanscom would be retained and similar facilities would be consolidated on the grounds of the ESC. However, because of the lack of available land to expand, the ESC would have a difficult time incorporating new programs. There is little room to grow. With additional flights comes the need for additional hangars. I am concerned that expansion will encroach on the valuable real estate the Air Force needs in order to grow. I recently met with USAF General William Looney, commanding officer of the ESC, and Mike Hogan of MassDevelopment to discuss opportunities to grow the ESC. Expansion of MassPort's operations threaten the ESC's growth.

Rep. Marty Meehan
D-Lowell

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