Environmentalists Express Concern Over Proposed Tree Clearing At East Hampton Airport

EAST HAMPTON, NY — Environmentalists have expressed concerns over proposed clear cutting of 21 acres of forest at East Hampton Airport.

A meeting to discuss the issue will be held Thursday night at East Hampton Town Hall at 6:30 p.m.

"The East Hampton Environmental Coalition is deeply concerned about the serious disruption of the vegetative cover of our single source aquifer the Town of East Hampton’s proposal for clear cutting of 21 acres of mature forest at East Hampton Airport represents," a statement read.

The group's membership is "uniformly opposed to this alteration of our woodlands without a scientific analysis of the consequences of this deforestation, without a frank assessment of the presumed benefits to the safety and efficiency of the operation of the airport, and without a balanced assessment of the interests of our citizens in preservation of our natural woodlands versus the expansion of aviation operations at our airport,” said Jim Matthews, EHEC co-chair.

Trimming of trees expected to pierce the glide plane for certain types of aircraft was
identified in the town's adopted Airport Master Plan in 2010, although it does not appear on the
town’s project list; nowhere in the Master Plan was clearing 21 acres of mature forest
anticipated or studied, the group said in a release.

Added Bob DeLuca, president of The Group for the East End, "The size and scale of this proposed clearing project should immediately trigger a complete ecological impact evaluation including a comparative assessment of potential mitigation measures, like selective clearing, or nearby habitat revegetation, that can reduce any short or long term ecological impacts associated with the town's legitimate desire to maintain safe
aircraft access to the town's airport."

EHEC maintains that they have also learned that the airport management advisory committee,
which advises the town board on these issues, raised questions about whether the cost, both in dollars in environmental destruction, was justifiable.

The clear cutting of 21 acres of mature trees to restore service that has already been affected by curfew makes
this decision environmentally disastrous and economically questionable, environmentalists added.

“The Perfect Earth Project supports a thorough study of the environmental benefits of
the current woodland and whether they would be met, or exceeded by converting it to a
different use,” said Edwina Von Gal, founder and president of the Perfect Earth Project.

“We owe it to everyone, both airport users and the larger community, to find out whether
the FAA will indefinitely allow the night instrument landings if the town is unable, as is
likely, to remove tree penetrations on privately owned land. Otherwise, what is
proposed here is completely futile,” David Gruber, AMAC member and chairman of the
East Hampton Airport Noise Committee said.

“Furthermore,” he added, "SEQRA compliance is mandatory, not elective. Given the special character of this area for drinking water protection, as designated at the town, county, and federal levels, the concern of the planning and natural resource directors for maintaining contiguous forest habitat for wildlife, and the crossing of one or more Type I thresholds specified by the SEQRA regulations, I find it impossible to imagine how an EIS is not required before this tree clearing can be contracted out.”

The town plans to adopt a bonding resolution for the work, estimated at $400,000 at Thursday's meeting, the group said.

East Hampton Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell said the town has been advised by the Federal Aviation Administration, and is being sued by "airport interests who've made a formal complaint," stating that obstructions, in the form of trees, in approach zones are unsafe.

"The town has an obligation to maintain those approach zones and keep them clear," Cantwell said.

The supervisor said the town is exploring all options and "no final decisions have been made. We certainly dojn't want to cut down any more trees than we have to."

Patch file photo by Richard Lewin.