Lowell Sun
June 22, 2003

Letter: Save Our Heritage disputes editorial

The National Trust for Historic Preservation recently included Minute Man National Historical Park in its designation of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. Your editorial response ("All show, no substance," June 3) contains factual misstatements and erroneous conclusions.

You claim Congressman Marty Meehan's support for this designation conflicts with his efforts to keep Hanscom Air Force Base open, because the base will suffer "if Hanscom Field is shut down or its flight operations diminished." In fact, no one is trying to shut down the airport; we propose only that its growth be restrained and that it be operated in balance with the nationally important historic sites that surround it.

Military flights constitute less than 1 percent of Hanscom operations, because the base -- a uniquely important military research and development center -- doesn't have a flight mission. The imposition of appropriate controls on corporate and commercial operations would have no effect on military flights or on the base. There is no inconsistency between Rep. Meehan's efforts to save the base and his efforts against Massport's expansion plans, and we applaud him for both.

You criticize the Trust for "releas[ing] no documentation to substantiate its charges." Massport's own Environmental Status and Planning Report provides ample documentation. Corporate jet operations have increased from 9,600 in 1995, to 20,200 in 2000, to 30,800 in 2002. The ESPR envisions up to 55,000 by 2015, but this is an unrealistically low estimate -- even if jet operations were to grow at only half the 1995-2000 rate, there would be 87,000 by 2015. Furthermore, small plane flights -- the least noisy and traditionally dominant use of the airport -- would decline from 93 percent of total operations in 1976 to 64 percent in 2015 (per the ESPR). Since jets cause 80 percent of Hanscom's noise (again according to Massport), this tremendous increase will have a huge impact on noise levels at nearby historic sites, despite the noise-reduction technology in newer jets.

You say the Trust's "agenda" is about "eradicating an airfield that abuts upscale communities," not park preservation. Congress created the Trust, which enjoys bipartisan confidence and support, to help preserve historic places for the benefit of all Americans. Since 1988, its annual Most Endangered listing has identified nearly 150 threatened, irreplaceable treasures nationwide. Your accusation that the Trust is being disingenuous in this case is absurd. A reputable, independent organization has validated what the Hanscom-area communities and citizens' groups have been saying for years.

Finally, the National Park Service disagrees with your assertion that Minute Man National Historical Park needs no protection from Hanscom expansion. In public comments on Massport's environmental reports, both the park superintendent and her predecessor have firmly stated that the current level of operations at Hanscom negatively impacts the park; that airport growth would significantly worsen those impacts, especially with respect to ground traffic on the Battle Road; and that the state environmental review process has utterly failed to address these problems.

The director of the National Park Service expressed the same concerns in a letter to the FAA three years ago. The park superintendent attended the announcement event and thanked the Trust for its support. You may choose to reject the park service's views, but it is dishonest of you to pretend they don't exist.

You are entitled to your opinion of the opponents of Hanscom expansion. But when you cite facts in support of your opinion, they ought to be the truth, not the products of Massport's propaganda and your prejudice.

Anna Winter
Executive Director
Save Our Heritage

==========
**NOTICE: In accordance with 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.** ==========