State Officials Worried About Proposed Falmouth Machine Gun Range

FALMOUTH, MA — Joint Base Cape Cod submitted a proposal for a machine gun range at Camp Edwards for the Massachusetts Army National Guard. But for the project is approved, it's going to have to undergo a state environmental review.

The $11 million firing range would expand an existing range at the base. Constructing it requires clearing more than 170 acres of forest to accommodate the range footprint, lighting, facilities, road maintenance and more.

State and local officials said they have concerns about the range's environmental impact, particularly because it would be built within the Upper Cape Water Supply Reserve, an important water source for Falmouth, Barnstable, Yarmouth and several upper Cape communities.

In 2002, state law established a panel to protect the 15,000-acre water supply. The Environmental Management Commission was tasked with overseeing the protection of the water supply and wildlife. Years of cleanup of soil and water were required at Camp Edwards because of contamination from past military activities.

The Cape Cod Times reported the commission's executive director Leonard Pinaud wrote a letter to the National Guard on Sept. 25. In the letter, Pinaud said he would not recommend project approval at this time due to "potential significant adverse environmental impacts and inconsistencies."

A few months back, the National Guard released an environmental report on the project and said it would not have any significant environmental impacts.

Pinaud said he also took issue with some weapons that would be used at the range. One example he gave was the MK 19 grenade launcher. Pinaud said the RDX ammunition used in those types of explosives "would pose a significant safety, environmental and noise concern."

"The Mk 19 can launch its grenade at a maximum distance of 2,212 meters, which is well beyond the current range design of 800 to 1,500 meters," Pinaud added.

Local officials also had concerns about the machine gun range. Falmouth Select Board members were upset because they hadn't found out about the National Guard's proposal until recently.

Select Board members said they want to meet with representatives from Joint Base Cape Cod and hold a public forum before the project proceeds. Board member Douglas Brown and other members said they were worried because they felt they were kept in the dark on the plan that Joint Base Cape Cod started developing and were not told about it until now.

"In reading the information provided in our packet, it is kind of concerning to me that this review and this process has been going on for two to three years," Brown said at Monday's select board meeting "We have the base leaders come out to us every year and give us an update. It is unfortunate we had to find this out in a clip in the newspaper instead of in, at least, a letter to us."

In Aug. 31, Town Manager Julian Suso said he sent a letter to the Keith Driscoll from the Massachusetts National Guard. The letter was sent on behalf of Board Chair Megan English Braga and Brown.

In the letter, town officials asked the National Guard to extend its public comment period for an additional 30 days and allow more opportunity for public discussion.

The Environmental Management Commission will hold a meeting to discuss the range on Oct. 8.