Draft Environmental Impact Report

Results of Our Efforts!

MEPA determined that the developers must submit a supplemental DEIR! An enormous thank you to Secretary Tepper and the MEPA office for thoroughly reviewing, researching, and thoughtfully evaluating all the information and data that was submitted regarding this project. Thank you to all our supporters and the approximately 1,500 people who submitted comments. The fight is far from over, but every single comment made an enormous difference. This decision shows exactly what we can accomplish when we all stand united with one goal.

To read the DEIR Certificate, click here.

DEIR Comments

Government

  • Federal

  • State

  • Regional

  • Towns & Cities

Organizations

  • National

  • State

  • Regional

  • Local

Individuals

  • Sample Comments

  • All Comments

Government

Federal

NPS, Minute Man National Historical Park

USFWS, Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

US Air Force

US EPA

State

State Senator Cindy Friedman

Joint Comment by Hanscom-area State Representatives, submitted by Rep Simon Cataldo

State Representative Carmine Gentile

Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources

Massachusetts Historical Commission

Regional

Hanscom Area Towns Committee (HATS)

Hanscom Field Advisory Commission (HFAC)

Boards of Health, chairs of Hanscom-area Towns

Towns & Cities

Bedford Select Board, also signed by

Office of the Bedford Town Manager
Bedford Department of Public Works
Bedford Planning Department
Bedford Fire Department
Bedford Code Enforcement Department
Bedford Health and Human Services Department
Bedford Housing & Economic Development Department

Concord Select Board

Lexington Select Board

Lincoln Select Board

Bedford Board of Health

Bedford Energy & Sustainability Committee

Concord Climate Action Committee

Concord Historical Commission

Sustainable Lexington Committee

For Municipal Resolutions
Opposing the Expansion click here

Organizations

National

Conservation Law Foundation
CLF Exhibit 1
CLF Exhibit 2
CLF Exhibit 3

Institute for Policy Studies, Project on Inequality & the Common Good

National Trust for Historic Preservation

National Parks Conservation Association

Bill McKibben

Regional

Berkshire Environmental Action Team

Climate Code Blue

Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility

State

Environmental League of Massachusetts

Environmental Monitoring Partners, LLC

Mothers Out Front - Massachusetts

Sierra Club MA Chapter

Stop Private Jet Expansion at Hanscom or Anywhere

Third Act! Massachusetts

Thoreau Society

The Creation Care Justice Network

Walden Woods

Local

350 Mass Newton Node

Chelmsford Climate Action Team

Citizens for Holden’s Energy Future (CHEF)

Climate Action Brookline

First Parish Bedford, Env. Justice Committee

Groton Ayer Buzz

League of Women Voters, Concord-Carlisle

League of Women Voters, Salem

Mothers Out Front - Bedford

Mothers Out Front - Brookline

Mothers Out Front - Newton

Orchard House

Save Our Heritage

The Green Team, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Individuals

See all comments submitted by individuals here

“I am a high school student from Winchester Massachusetts…The last thing we should be doing right now is encouraging and expanding [private jet infrastructure]. The airport has released a DEIR which is missing some vital information to make it look more environmentally friendly than it is…”

Read the full comment here

“As an MD who retired ten years ago to volunteer with a climate organization, I am deeply concerned about the proposal to expand hanger space at Hanscom. While I do not live locally, the contribution of the proposed expansion to the climate crisis affects us all. If I submitted this DEIR as representing "informed consent" for a patient, I would be sued for malpractice… the report claims that hanger expansion will only serve the need that already exists; it ignores the predictable increased demand.”

Read the full comment here

“As a parent, I am concerned about climate change and the environment that my children are inheriting... I bear a personal responsibility to future generations to make these sacrifices of effort and increased expense. At the town-wide level, Concord initiatives are reducing climate impact as well… the Hanscom expansion is a calamity for our climate and a slap in the face to people in MA who are working hard to do the right thing... The people of MA are watching and counting on you!”

Read the full comment here

SPJE has compiled a selection of powerful comments here

“The Climate Change portion of the draft environmental impact report is shockingly inadequate... Massachusetts must not continue expanding facilities for the most climate-damaging elements of our transportation system. The proponents' environmental impact report should be judged unacceptable until it clearly documents the complete impacts of their proposed development.”

Read the full comment here

“The overall expected impact of this project will be great environmental harm to the region and the planet, negative impact on wildlife, and immeasurable harm to priceless national treasures, including the birthplace of our national liberty and the environmental movement.“

Read the full comment here

“I… spent [my] entire career building electrified mass transit projects throughout the United States. After a career in building green transportation infrastructure, I am appalled that the developers of the proposed Hanscom Northfield Development would greenwash the project and present it as being a net zero project. The reality is that it would have a huge environmental impact lasting for many decades into the future… The developer’s anticipated reduction in emissions from ferry flights, by their own admission, is 2% – 3% less than current. Similarly, a thorough independent study concludes that the reduced ferry flights would be insignificant.”

Read the full comment here

“We urge you to consider the potential hardships that these decisions impose on our residents. Is it “just” for the Commonwealth to compel an elderly person or child to choose between necessities and reducing carbon in the atmosphere caused by private jets being used to transport financially secure individuals?

Read the full comment here