Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-06-17-HFAC-minHanscom Field Advisory Commission (HFAC) Minutes —17 June 2025 Prepared by Massport Staff Video of HFAC Meeting on the Lincoln, MA TV Page: Mips://c —()LAIc,asfu—y/vod/l11Owl n/ 1ala e=II()ME HFAC Website:_ hflps://sites. m lexorn/view/hfac • Call to Order: HFAC Chair Margaret Coppe called the meeting to order at 7:00pm • Announcements: • Chair Coppe recording HFAC Meeting; greeted all to June 20th meeting pursuant to MA Open Meeting Law • Chair Coppe shared the opinion of the Sustainable Lexington Committee comprehensive environmental assessment • Minutes: The May 2025 Meeting Minutes were reviewed for approval • The May 2025 Meeting Minutes were approved 5-0 with no amendments o Terri Ackerman was not present to vote o Barbara Katzenberg asked to review Action Items from May 2025 Meeting Minutes • Cargo or Scheduled Commercial Passenger Services • Amber Goodspeed stated there have been no requests for future scheduled passenger or cargo service • Monthly Noise Reports: presented by Amber Goodspeed In May 2024 as compared to May 2025: • 7am - l 1pm operations decreased 6.5% in May 2025 • Singles (including touch and goes) decreased 10.2% in May 2025 • Turbo activity decreased 14.6% in May 2025 • Jet operations increased 1.9% in May 2025 • Helicopter activity decreased 6.3% in May 2025 • Night Operations (1 1pm-7am) decreased 16.6% with 259 in May 2024 compared to 216 in May 2025 Agenda Items: Topics discussed on published agenda: • Dr. Neelakshi Hudda presented final summary of findings from deploying stationary monitoring sites to measure ultra fine particles (UFPs) and airborne lead (Pb) concentrations in four towns surrounding Hanscom Field o Phase I monitored concentrations at nine sites in the winter and spring; Phase II monitored concentrations at four sites in the summer and fall; mapped the spatial spread of air quality impacts o Summary of findings was that highest concentration of ultrafine particles occurred at sites that were downwind of Hanscom Field during periods of moderate wind speeds and high flight activity o Gary Keller queried about if lead particles are considered to be UFPs; Dr. Hudda indicated more information on lead will be provided in the final report o Jennifer Boles asked about lead at Thoreau community farm; Dr. Hudda did not take soil samples at Thoreau o Thomas Hirsch sought more information on how UFPs settle on objects to be digested by humans; Dr. Hudda theorized that humans come in contact with diffused UFPs on various objects to include human skin o Chris Boles wanted to know what kind of lead contamination is being generated at the Boston EPA site that it is used for comparison; Dr. Hudda explained site considered an urban background site • Amber Goodspeed identified contractors for taxiway and lighting projects as J.H. Lynch from Millbury, MA • Amber Goodspeed researched the Air Force Family Camp lease end plans to find that Massport and the US Air Force have been discussing options but no solution has been reached at this time • Amber Goodspeed indicated that Merlin will be present at the June Public Meeting to answer all HFAC questions • Thomas Hirsch explained that it is not unusual for experimental aircraft to get an exemption to operate at an airport in a populated area but perform testing at a safe location away from residential areas • Chair Coppe asked for comments on the MA Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Workgroup Recommendations o Christopher Eliot listed the fundamental problem with SAF process is very electricity dependent and supporting agriculture is carbon intensive; asking Commonwealth of MA to provide tax credits for $12 billion per year Capital Programs and Third Party Development Reports: Amber Goodspeed presented the Capital Programs and Third Party Development reports and noted that: • The salt storage shed project has been completed • Runway Realty Ventures, LLC (RRV) filed the Notice of Project Change (NPC) in the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) office Environmental Monitor; public comment period was extended until 25 July with a virtual public meeting scheduled for 25 June at bpm via Zoom o HFAC requested public meeting date change due to conflicts; Amber Goodspeed will send request to RRV • North Airfield Ventures (NAV) announced Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) will be submitted with a target date of over the summer, early autumn 2025 • Beta Technologies' Alia CX300 electric aircraft flew into Hanscom Field on 05 June to use an electric charging station and departed on the same day successfully • Solar panel installation at Airfield Rescue and Firefighting and Customs and Border Protection facility complete • Citizen Comments: Christopher Elliot interviewed by WBUR, Boston's National Public Radio (NPR), for piece on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) flights operating through Hanscom Field; Amber Goodspeed stated Hanscom Field is a public use airport and Massport cannot dictate who uses the airfield o Margaret Coppe stated that this is not under the scope of the Commission Stuart Trout asked if North Airfield project will include electric aircraft charging stations; Amber Goodspeed indicated the Supplemental DEIR will provide details on the Project inclusions • Other Business: The date for the next HFAC meeting will be at 7:00 p.m. on 15 July 2025 • Notice of Project Change (NPC) public meeting will be 25 June 2025 at 6:OOpm via Zoom • Action Items: • Receive contract from Professor Neelakshi Hudda in order to invoice before funds expire on 30 June 2025 • HFAC consolidate action item questions and send them to Merlin prior to the public meeting • Draft response to MA Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Workgroup Recommendations for HFAC review • Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 8:38 p.m. Attendees: Margaret Coppe, Christopher Eliot, Thomas Hirsch, Barbara Katzenberg, Terrence Parker, Amber Goodspeed, Mike Vatalaro, Mark Wimmer, Dr. Neelakshi Hudda, Alex Strysky, Dakota Antelman, Christopher Boles, Jennifer Boles, Patty Dahlgren, Corinne Doud, Gary Keller, Julie McCay, Heather Patterson, Maggie Scales, Elisabeth Smeda, Jenny Stewart, Alex Strysky, Lara Sullivan, Stewart Trout, Todd Wallack and Victoria Whitmore.