Warren, Keating, Markey Express Concerns About Proposed Multi-Purpose Machine Gun Range at Joint Base Cape Cod
Washington, D.C. - After hearing from constituents and local elected officials, United States Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey along with Congressman William J. Keating sent a letter to the Army National Guard expressing concerns about a proposed Multi-Purpose Machine Gun (MPMG) Range at Camp Edwards and requesting that the Guard consider conducting a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the range.
The Army National Guard has proposed an eight-lane machine gun range at Camp Edwards, the Massachusetts Army National Guard training area located on Joint Base Cape Cod (JBCC). If opened, this MPMG would be the first of its kind in Massachusetts and would be used for training and weapons qualification.
Residents in the Town of Bourne, where the range would be located, and surrounding communities have expressed concerns about the possible environmental impact of the MPMG. This includes concerns about contamination of the local water supply – which has already occurred in the area around JBCC – and about the wildlife around the site. In August 2020, a draft “Finding of No Significant Impact” (FONSI) was released and since then a number of local advocates have continued to oppose the project.
“Since the public became aware of this project last summer, our offices have received numerous correspondence from our constituents expressing their concerns over the impact of the MPMG project on the environment and surrounding communities,” the lawmakers wrote.
“The overwhelming majority of constituents who have contacted our offices believe that further review of the project should be required beyond the standard study that was conducted, despite the draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) that the Guard has indicated will be finalized this week. With this in mind, we would also request a congressional staff briefing on the MPMG, including details about the FONSI.
“On behalf of our constituents, we respectfully request that you determine whether a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is warranted for the Multi-Purpose Machine Gun (MPMG) Range at Camp Edwards, and that you include consideration of stakeholder input from both abutters and those who rely on water from Cape Cod’s sole source aquifer,” the lawmakers continued.
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