Back in September, we alerted you to the Massachusetts National Guard’s plan to engage the National Academies of Science (NAS) to review the proposed multipurpose machine gun range (MPMGR) in an article called, “Beware the Secret Meetings.” The proceedings of that meeting are no longer secret. The meeting transcript, along with several ancillary financial documents, were turned over to APCC by the Guard in response to several new public records requests made by APCC in February.
The NAS session was held on October 30, 2024, and cost the Massachusetts taxpayers roughly $53,000. The transcript is most noteworthy for what is missing. No one in attendance said that the information provided by the Guard was sufficient to support the Guard’s claim that the MPMGR would not imperil the Upper Cape Water Supply Reserve. Numerous reviewers cited concerns with sampling methodologies and study construction, as well as taking issue with sampling detection limits being higher than protective limits used by Massachusetts to ensure public health and environmental quality.
The proceedings, while by design not representing any sort of group consensus, in our reading validates the questions EPA raised about the data not supporting the conclusions made by the Guard. What does it all mean? That question is anyone’s bet. Unless the Guard tries to revive the MPMGR project, this meeting transcript is an interesting final chapter to a long story that proves that questions remained unanswered about the projects risks and impacts.
If the Guard tries to revive the project, then the proceedings are a starting point for what additional studies are needed to come to a technically defensible position on the impact of the project. The proceedings are also important in independently documenting data and analytic deficiencies if the new EPA leadership throws out the draft finding of significant impact. The NSA discussion provides an important backstop to a politically motivated reversal of EPA’s position.
As is always the case, the availability of this document for the public to see helps keep everyone honest. Now more than ever, public vigilance is required. APCC is pleased to have played an important part in ensuring that the public has a chance to read and assess the discussion that took place at this publicly-funded event.
