[CPEO-MEF] Lawmakers back 25-year lease extension

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

Massachusetts
THE CAPE COD TIMES
Lawmakers back 25-year lease extension
By Amanda Lehmert
August 7, 2003

More than a third of the state's legislative representatives - including
five from the Cape - threw their support behind the Massachusetts
Military Reservation lease extension yesterday.

Led by Rep. Jeffrey Perry, R-Sandwich, 58 of the 160 representatives
signed a letter urging the governor to extend the lease and keep the
military at the Upper Cape military reservation at least until 2051.

The base is an important resource for the military, Perry said. Signing
the lease will only encourage the government to continue to invest in
the base and the ongoing cleanup efforts.

The representatives join other local leaders, including Barnstable
County Sheriff James Cummings, in wanting the National Guard to stay on
the Upper Cape base for 25 years past the current lease expiration in
2026.

The state is accepting public comments on the lease extension until Aug.
15. Copies of the draft lease extension are available at www.eandrc.org
and at public libraries.

Civic and environmental groups have opposed extending the lease a full
25 years and don't want the governor to sign anything until water supply
issues are resolved with the four Upper Cape towns that border the base.

Although Falmouth, Bourne, Mashpee and Sandwich do not have agreements
in writing with the military, representatives from the towns, the state
and the military met yesterday in Boston to discuss the issue.

Nothing was resolved, Perry said, but it was clear that all the parties
wanted to do the right thing.

This article can be viewed at:
http://www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/lawmakers257.htm

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