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Sustainable Lexington Committee Minutes of June 22, 2023 <br />250 range, which is effectively 150 miles. But this use represents a small portion of <br />the flights/emissions. <br />!Mark said that the surrounding towns are limited in what they can control at the air <br />field. The ability to limit hanger development is one of those things. <br />o Cindy proposed writing a letter to the Select Board with the committee’s recommendation <br />that the Board object to the installation of the new hangers. <br />!Rick suggested that the letter should include the impact on public health – disease and <br />asthma. <br />!Celis suggest that letter include concerns related to increased traffic and noise. <br />!Lin recommended that the letter speak up for the young residents who can’t vote and <br />would be affected by planned development. <br />!Rick suggested that the letter should emphasize the fact that these are private jets are <br />used by the super-rich economy and do not benefit average citizens. <br />!The key points of the letter reviewed during the meeting were: <br />•Massport and the developers of the North Airfield Development at Hanscom Field <br />are proposing 27 new hangars for private jets, expecting a near triple capacity <br />increase at Hanscom for these aircraft. <br />•Travel by private jet is by far the most polluting form of transport. Users of private <br />jets, known as super emitters, generate up to 7,500 tons of CO2e per person per <br />year. This is 426 times more than the emissions generated per year by the average <br />American. <br />•A single jet flight out of Hanscom generates more than four times more CO2e <br />emissions than the average Massachusetts home in an entire year. <br />•These amounts of emissions easily wipe out progress that has been made in <br />reducing greenhouse gas emissions, not to mention increasing dangerous air <br />pollution. Along with obvious traffic and emissions increases, this expansion will <br />have significant negative public health impacts, including toxic air contaminants <br />and noise. <br />•This expansion of private jet access is not compatible with the stated climate <br />priorities of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, of Massport, or of Lexington <br />and our neighbors. <br />•We must also consider the impact on the youngest and most vulnerable residents <br />of the area and their limited ability to have their voices heard. These negative <br />impacts would be caused by a privileged few, but would impact us all, including <br />our youngest and most vulnerable. <br />o Cindy made a motion that the committee should oppose expansion of hangers at the <br />Hanscom Air Field per points discussed and that she would send a letter based on these <br /> .7