[CPEO-IRF] South Weymouth NAS (MA) Basewide Watershed Assessment

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Lenny et al,

      I apologize if my including both mailing lists on this causes any 
irritating redundancies.

     As introduction, my name is Dave Wilmot. I'm one of many sick 
folks living in proximity to a former Naval Air Station in southeastern 
Massachusetts.

      I don't believe the Federal government is funding Base 
Realignment And Closure(BRAC) remediations responsibly.

      I don't believe the Department of Defense should hold power over 
public health initiatives in this country.

     I believe true Environmental Justice should be available to all 
people as God given blessings and never forfeited for financial or 
political positions.

     Eight years into the fight, and basic truths are still being ignored.

     Lenny, if you find my postings in any way inappropriate for your 
subscribers, please let me know. As you know, it's important we all 
communicate to keep things moving in the right direction.

                          regards, dave <DCatbird37@aol.com>
.


Subject: South Weymouth NAS Basewide Watershed Assessment Presentation
From: DCatbird37@aol.com
Date: Fri, 8 Sep 2006 12:32:24 EDT
To: [Original recipient list deleted]

    As was stated on previous July 19 letter, I regret my absence at 
the last(7-20-06) Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) meeting, to hear 
first-hand the long-awaited "Basewide Watershed Assessment (BWA)" 
presentation.

    I have just received and reviewed the minutes collected at that 
meeting, and although a vast majority of my concerns stated on the 7-19 
letter remain unanswered, I will keep my comments here to discussions 
regarding meeting minutes.

    Bryan, I am addressing this email to Mary Sanderson here, as I 
realize many of my concerns are far and away out of your jurisdiction 
and require serious discussion in Washington prior to responsible adoption.

    Mary, I sincerely believe you can readily see the issues that need 
be "kicked upstairs", to best protect Environmental Justice and Public 
Health during military base closings.

    I would hope your position puts you in place to expand the audience 
of these valid concerns, to help restore responsible remediative 
practices to the process of environmental cleanup required in 
transferring federal facilities.

    Any questions I posed that you feel comfortable in answering I 
would much appreciate your responses to.

    I am happy to learn that your presentation was attended by some 
local watershed folks. Their expertise in this area is much needed in 
these studies and deliberations.

    I have cc'd them here to continue this promotion of public process.

    I was, on the other hand, disappointed to realize that our 
appointed development overseers, South Shore Tri-Town 
Development(SSTTDC) found so little of interest in this presentation, 
that they failed to send any representative to the proceedings.

    Reading recent articles in the Weymouth news, I see where SSTTDC is 
anxious to arrange a final land transfer of 835 acres to appease their 
"Master Developer" and the Navy. This is being pushed for with full 
knowledge that yet to be addressed CERCLA(Superfund designated) toxic 
sites remain on property, and base crossing waterways are passing 
through those sites. Ground water characterization studies are just now 
being conducted.

    Yet, SSTTDC the development board in place to protect our citizens 
best interests, are pushing for a land transference so an outside 
development interest can build houses in a soft housing market, in towns 
already overtaxed for municipal services(water, sewer, trash, schools, 
clogged road systems), and SSTTDC feels it's right in removing the Navy 
from it's cleanup responsibilities. How can a panel of people appointed 
to protect our best interests truly believe they're doing this?

    A further recent article quotes SSTTDC Executive Director Terry 
Fancher as saying "When the (airbase land) gets conveyed, it will be 
cleaned to our satisfaction.", and at the same time clearly demonstrates 
his lack of regard for the ongoing cleanup and environmental health of 
the transferring airbase land in  that he doesn't find it necessary to 
send a representative to a important reporting on studies of underlying 
airbase watershed impact that's been at least four years in the making?

    I will have to provide you with  my input to the Basewide Watershed 
Assessment RAB meeting at a later time. Irresponsible and deceptive 
practices wear me out.

                         God bless you all, dave wilmot
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