HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-11-07-HFAC-rpt.pdf /
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November 7, 1981 (_'I .'J 'u0-4v4
TO Lexington Board of Selectmen V
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FROM: Jacquie Smith, Hanscom Field Advisondrinightssion Representative
RE. E.N.F. response on the Stead Aviation prdsf; and 1981 up-date
The Hanscom Field Advisory Commission has been dealing with routine
matters through most of 1981. Primarily we have been in the process of the
18 month review period of the noise rule which should be completed in the
Spring of 1982. Our goal is to set up an on-going monitoring system for
Hanscom that will give us an annual picture of the noise contours as well
as data on types of planes and firms using the field. Monitoring has gone
on all summer. What we have learned to date is that although there has
been a marked increase in jet operations at Hanscom, there has been a
collateral increase in the use of quieter planes at the field. This is due
entirely to having noise rules in effect. Regular users are "trading up" to
newer, quieter planes or sending the quieter planes in their existing fleet
into Hanscom rather than pay surcharges. Jet nighttime activity is now almost
non-existent.
Now for the bad news! :
Massport has negotiated a contract with a new Fixed Base Operator
for Hanscom -• Stead Aviation, Inc. Stead will be the primary source of all
fuel sales on the field and will build two new buildings both to hangar planes
and to house their maintenance facilities. In addition to general maintenance,
they will be bringing some of their highly sophisticated avionics repair and
sales service from Manchester, N.H. Stead is a first class operation. Their
facilities are sensitively designed. They will bring a much needed service
to corporate users of the field and will provide a much safer storage and distribution
of fuel oil . HFAC has no major problem with this development. (Lincoln wants
guarantees that the buildings will be built to standard. Bedford wants assurances
that there will be no additional run-off of contaminants into the Elm Brook
water supply. )
Our concern is focused on the fact that the Stead development plus the
increased jet operations recorded this summer mark the beginning of growth
at Hanscom. This growth will not be in light planes since fuel and plane costs
have skyrocketted beyond most people'sfocketbooks. The most successful training
firm at Hanscom folded last month and training flights continue to diminish in number.
The growth is in corporate traffic and facilities -- jets and larger turbo-props.
Massport has historically ignored Hanscom unless forced to address issues
there, such as, the Noise Rules. They have no development plan for the field
beyond the policy statement in the Master Plan. However, with a half-million
dollar operating deficit last year, they may (and should) be about to develop
such a plan -- and the communities around Hanscom need input to it to be sure
the balance between growth in aviation and no growth in aircraft noise is
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maintained. Planned growth at Hanscom ismuch safer for the communities
than haphazard growth, such as, the introduction of Stead and its facilities
without any idea of what might be next.
The Stead development has triggered an ENF process for which comments
are due on November 12. The Massport environmental audit (a detailed analysis
of probable environmental impacts) did not reach HFAC until Thursday, Nov. 5
On Nov. 6 we met to discuss our recommendations to our constituencies or Boards
The consensus arrived at by both the community and aviation representatives to
the HFAC was that the Stead proposaltaken by itself was environmentally sound
and a needed addition to the field. However, it does mark the beginning of
development favoring jet growth at Hanscom, and we need a commitment from Mass-
port to start immediately on an economic development plan for Hanscom that
has a mechanism in it for tieing that development back to the Noise Rules so
the communities willstill be guaranteed a quiet environment. The most
probable vehicle for doing this would a Generic Environmental Impact Report.
(.Massport is currently doing one at Logan.)
MEPA was represented at our Nov 6 meeting and will be looking for
ways to require such a plaj as part of the acceptance of the Stead proposal
without an ENF if the communities want it
Therefore, I. recommend that you send a letter to Sec Bewick stating
Lexington's position on the Stead proposal and the jet growth issue. I have
attached a draft letter for your convenience.
Hanscom and its issues remain dynamic and challenging. I appreciate
the opportunity to work on them for Lexington