ShhAir
P.O. Box 441
Concord, MA 01742
(781) 674-9755
info@shhair.org

 

Hanscom News: Tree Cutting Around Hanscom Field
  • 10/24/02 Bedford Minuteman, Concord Journal: Two residents accuse ShhAir of valuing trees over pilots safety. ShhAir rebuts these inflammatory letters by pointing out that the FAA has stated all along that Hanscom's approach and departure paths are safe, and that Massport's tree cutting plan goes far beyond anything done previously.

  • 6/20/02 Bedford Minuteman, Metrowest Daily News: Many worry that Massport's tree cutting plan as a scheme not just to make current activity safe, but also to enable more and larger planes to use Hanscom Field. Massport insists this is not the case.

  • 6/6/02 Lincoln Journal: Resident blasts Massport on tree cutting plan and asks other residents to get involved.

  • 5/23/02 Bedford Minuteman: Selectmen question whether Massport's tree cutting plan is a so called "limited project" which Massport could push thru separately in each town. Meanwhile Massport throws the towns a bone by asking the FAA for a steeper tree cutting angle.

  • 12/30/01 Globe: Massport will issue notices of intent for the Hanscom vegetation management (tree cutting) plan in late January or early February, with public hearings scheduled thereafter.

  • 10/11/01 Bedford Minuteman: Local officials, ShhAir and Save Our Heritage worry that Massport's "Vegetation Management Plan" goes beyond safety needs and  could enable more and bigger airplanes to use Hanscom Field.

  • 9/16/01 Globe: Buzzwords abound in Massport's "Vegetation Management Plan."

  • 9/13/01 Bedford Minuteman: Letter to editor arguing that Massport's "Vegetation Management Plan" goes beyond safety needs and, if implemented, would facilitate expansion.

  • 8/23/01 Concord Journal, subsequent letter to editor: Save Our Heritage points out that Massport tried to push their vegetation management plan through without public review, and that they could and should have presented their vegetation management plans earlier, after they concluded an FAA obstruction analysis report in March of 2000. This would have avoided needing public comment at the same time as the similarly complex ESPR environmental planning process does.

  • 8/23/01 Concord Journal: Massport unveiled an overview of their "vegetation management plan" to cut trees and other vegetation in all four towns around Hanscom. More details will be presented in public meetings on 8/28 and 9/13, and public comments are due by Sept 24.

  • 8/2/01 Bedford Minuteman, Globe: Massport agrees to postpone presentations on their "Vegetation Management" (i.e. tree cutting) plan until 8/21 and 9/18 HFAC meetings and 8/28 and 9/13 public meetings. Also, HATS-ESC is concerned that the Hanscom parking lot repaving will increase the number of parking spots.

  • 7/26/01 Bedford Minuteman: Local officials fret that Massport has given incomplete and conflicting information about its plans to cut hundreds of trees around Hanscom Airfield.

  • 7/22/01 Globe: Massport will formally notify the four towns abutting Hanscom Field that it intends to clear vegetation on airport land - despite requests from the towns that the project be delayed because key procedures have not been followed.

  • 7/19/01 Concord Journal: Massport and the Bedford Conservation Administrator disagree about proper process to follow for Massport's tree cutting plans. In other news, renovations at the Hanscom Civil Air Terminal are on hold until later in the year because "bids came in too high."

  • 6/28/01 Bedford Minuteman: At Bedford's request, Massport is delaying until August its plan to go before the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission to request that Massport be named MAC's agent in clearing trees in the Bedford Town Forest.

  • 6/24/01 Globe: Massport has postponed until August its plan to go before the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission to request that it be named its agent for the purpose of clearing trees from 44 acres of the 120-acre Hartwell Town Forest.

  • 6/17/01 Globe: Massport is proposing to remove trees from 44 acres in the Hartwell Town Forest in Bedford to clear flight paths at Hanscom Field. They are citing a 1967 special law as evidence that they do not need to town's permission to do this.

  • 3/21/01 Bedford Minuteman: Massport is developing a plan to cut a significant number of trees in the Bedford Town Forest that they claim are simply getting too high.

 

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