March 29, 2012 - STATES - The National Guard

Community Advisory Council to the
Environmental Management Commission
Building 1805
Camp Edwards, Massachusetts
March 29, 2012
5:30 p.m.
Meeting Minutes
CAC Members: Organization: Telephone: E-Mail:
Richard LaFarge CAC 508-759-8218 richardlafarge@comcast.net
Mimi McConnell CAC 508-428-9573
Larry Cole CAC 508-432-2464 Coleslaw1@verizon.net
Jimmy Dishner CAC 508-240-7010 Dishner101@comcast.net
VirginiaValiela CAC 508-563-9028 valielav@hotmail.com
Alan Cowles CAC 508-209-0612 Cowles_alan@yahoo.com
Mark Harding CAC 508-965-0452 mark@wampworx.com
Sharon Rooney CAC 508-362-3828
Jim Cummings CAC 508-563-4302
EMC Staff:
Mark Begley EMC Executive Director
/Environmental Officer
Telephone: E-Mail:
508-968-5127 mark.begley@state.ma.us
Attendees: Organization: Telephone: E-Mail:
Thomas Sellars MA NG 508-233-6547
COL Richard Crivello MA ARNG 508-968-5884
LTC Richard Bertone MANG Camp Edwards 508-968-5885 Richard.bertone@us.army.mil
MAJ Shawn Cody MA ARNG 508-968-5834 Shawn.cody@us.army.mil
Commissioner Mary Griffin EMC/DF&G 617-626-1550
Dr. Mike Ciaranca E&RC 508-968-5121 Michael.ciaranca@us.army.mil
Sally Hartmann E&RC 508-968-5145 Sally.a.hartmann@us.army.mil
Emily Derbyshire E&RC 508-968-5146 Emily.derbyshire@us.army.mil
John Kelly E&RC 508-968-5848 John.kelly19@us.army.mil
Lynda Wadsworth E&RC 508-968-5152 Lynda.e.wadsworth@us.army.mil
1SG Earle Eldridge MA ARNG 508-968-5267 Earle.eldridge@us.army.mil
Col. Tim Mullen MANG 508-968-7250 Timothy.mullen@ang.af.mil
CPT Ryan Walsh MA ARNG 508-968-5925 Ryan.walsh3@us.army.mil
MAJ Mike Koski MA ARNG 508-968-5888 Michael.koski@us.army.mil
Ms. Sue Rohrbach Sen. Dan Wolf 508-775-0162 srohrbach@senatordanwolf.com
Bruce Holbrook 508-540-3119 Robert.holbrook@wedtv.net
Ed Turkington
Mark Forest
Handouts Distributed at Meeting:
1. Community Advisory Council Draft Meeting Minutes for November 17, 2011
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Agenda Item #1. Welcome
Community Advisory Council (CAC) Chair Mark Harding welcomed everyone and the CAC members
introduced themselves. Mr. Harding stated that he looks forward to continuing to work with the Military
and the Department of Homeland Security at the MMR.
Agenda Item #2: Review of CAC Meeting Minutes
The minutes from the November 17, 2011 meeting were reviewed. Mr. Dishner made a motion to
approve the minutes and Mr. Cole seconded the motion. The minutes were approved unanimously.
Agenda Item #3: Slide Presentation on the First Ten Years: Natural Resource Protection and
Compatible Military Training – Lynda Wadsworth, E&RC and Mark Begley, EMC Staff
Ms. Wadsworth presented a slide show highlighting the first ten years of natural resource protection and
compatible military training on the Reserve.
Agenda 4. Remarks on Implementing the MOA/Chapter 47 Over the First Ten Years – Thomas
Sellars, Brigadier General (Retired) & Commissioner Mary Griffin, EMC Chair
BG Sellars said the presentation shows a level of commitment that extends beyond what was anticipated
during the early days. There was recognition that there were shortcomings and opportunities to take
action and correct the situation. At the time there was a lack of a catalyst to bring everyone together and
provide a common shared focus. The CAC accomplished that need. The CAC’s sincere commitment to
do the right thing for the Upper Cape as a whole fulfilled the catalyst. He thanked the CAC for all their
work and support. He also recognized Mr. Begley, the Environmental Management Commission and
Commissioner Mary Griffin, Department of Fish and Game, for all the great work.
BG Sellars said that 11,000 soldiers have gone overseas and four soldiers who trained at Camp Edwards
have been killed in combat. There are quality training facilities at Camp Edwards that have benefited the
soldiers and families. He thanked the E&RC, which has been a great component of the team with Camp
Edwards.
Commissioner Griffin thanked Ms. McConnell, Mr. Harding and the CAC for all the input to the EMC.
The EMC has built trust with the public, the Massachusetts National Guard, and regulatory environmental
agencies. She said that the Department of Fish and Game, in partnership with the Massachusetts National
Guard, manages the 15,000 acres that is under the care of the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and has a
three part purpose: water supply protection, wildlife and habitat protection, and compatible military
training. From an environmental perspective, those things are working well together. There are 41 statelisted,
endangered, threatened, or species of special concern on Camp Edwards, which is remarkable and
is the highest concentration in the state. There is a globally rare Pine Barrens habitat that is part of the
Reserve which they are working actively with the Massachusetts National Guard to protect. There are a
number of very successful environmental restoration efforts and wildlife enhancements going on
cooperatively with the E&RC and the National Guard to include the New England cottontail restoration
effort. The MMR is the most significant habitat in Massachusetts with the New England Cottontail.
There also has been collaboration with the National Guard restoring the Eastern Box Turtle. There is a
management effort to restore whip-poor-wills and breeding bird census and vegetation monitoring. There
has been a lot of great cooperative environmental work at MMR. There have been accomplishments
training soldiers to be combat ready, and there has been approval of initiatives for the Guard including the
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Soldier Validation Lane and XCTC training. Small Arms Ranges and ammunition and grenade
simulators were reviewed by the EMC and found to be compatible with the environmental goals for the
MMR.
Agenda Item # 5: A Round Table Discussion of the First Ten Years – Co-Chairs, Mimi McConnell
& COL Richard Crivello, Camp Edwards Post Commander
There was a round table discussion of the first ten years. Ms. McConnell noted that COL Crivello was a
member in the original Community Working Group and was a lot of support. The Community Working
Group was formed in 1997 and came up with a long-range plan with the military through the assistance of
Congressman Delahunt. She noted that there was a lot of distrust with the public initially. The Cape Cod
Commission assisted in the master plan. The trust was the foundation of the future. The Memorandum of
Agreement was signed October 4, 1998. There was an Executive Order by Governor Swift and on March
4, 2002 the legislation was signed.
COL Crivello stated that the Community Working Group looked at the land and maintenance of the
training area to protect the natural resources and the Chapter 47 legislation established a management
structure for the land. September 11, 2011 initiated protecting the homeland and there was a need for
training in the entire MMR for the military and first responders. He thanked CAC members for their time
and effort and making the community a better place to live.
Mr. Harding said that he became involved at MMR in the late 1990s with Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe as
the deputy tribal historic preservation office and elected official of the Mashpee tribe.
Mr. Cowles said that he became involved in 1996 with the Combat Communications Squadron and
moved into a facility at the Air Guard. He said he “has seen the pendulum move from one side to another
over the years.” He said when he came to the Environmental and Readiness Center, he got to work with a
very outstanding group of professionals, some of the best seen in his professional career; a dedicated
group, including Lynda Wadsworth and Emily Derbyshire, and other working for environmental
protection. He stated that he and Mark Begley really developed a working relationship, and he saw how
the environmental side needed to be protected. The CAC, the Science Advisory Council (SAC) and the
EMC have been constant support along with the legislative support. There has been compatible military
training while preserving the Upper Cape Water Supply and the environment.
Mr. Forest echoed the thanks expressed to everyone and for those involved and said that the growth has
been very exciting on MMR. He said his first meeting at MMR was in 1985, which was the Master Plan
meeting and he was working with Congressman Gary Studds. There was a push in the late 1980s for
remediation on MMR. During the 1990-1992 there was a commitment with the Pentagon to fully
resource the cleanup. In late 1996, involvement began with investigation and protecting the water supply
and the need for a new Master Plan on MMR. The model was the Upper Cape Water Supply Cooperative
that was formed with community involvement. He gave thanks to Eric Turkington, who worked as a
Representative, for all his legislative support. He said there is more work to be done with the southern
part of the base. He said that there were lessons learned at MMR that have been used at many other
bases.
Mr. Dishner recognized that the MMR has come to a point in history that there is a celebration of the last
ten years. He said that a great job was done by the CAC and all involved at the MMR.
Ms. Rohrbach stated that there were so many moving parts over several years that worked towards saving
the base. She displayed a few items collected over the years. She remarked on the leadership that came
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from Mr. Forest, Congressman Delahunt, COL Crivello and Ms. McConnell. She thanked Mr. Begley
and the EMC for all the work they have done.
Mr. Turkington stated that that there was an effort with people at every level including at the highest
levels of government and the military and at the grass roots on Cape Cod who contributed with the
process to make the base better environmentally and he was glad to be part of the process.
COL Crivello noted that Cape Cod Commission expertise that was provided was appreciated and
continued to be supportive.
Ms. McConnell stated that “the MMR is everyone’s backyard” and important for environmental
protection.
Mr. Cole recognized Ms. Crocker for all her support of the military base, leading grass root efforts to
support soldiers, and stated that through the process military training has become recognized as
compatible with the environment.
Commissioner Griffin suggested a written a story about the history that could be shared.
COL Crivello stated there has been success training soldiers at MMR and protecting the resources and
environment.
Agenda Item #6: Public Comment
There was no public comment.
Agenda Item #7: Closing Comments
Dr. Ciaranca recognized the Environmental and Readiness Center. He thanked everyone for all their
support.
Ms. Rohrbach thanked Dr. Ciaranca for all his work.
Agenda Item #8: Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
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