What People Are Saying 

 

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Below is a collection of comments from people who have written to Save the Brewsters to tell us their perspectives on the Harbor Islands National Park and specifically Outer Brewster.

A school teacher from Montana talks about the Brewsters
A scuba diver's impressions of Outer Brewster
Letter to the Legislature
A fiscal, social and political conservative's view

A school teacher from Montana talks about the Brewsters 

I am an elementary teacher in Montana, but I worked for the DEM as a park ranger on Great Brewster Island the summer of 2001. That was the first summer that the island was reopened for visitors and it was an incredible experience. That island is a haven for thousands of birds, including American Oystercatchers, which are far from common, and is used as a nesting area for many speices of birds. If the proposal for the LNG station goes through I am confident that those birds will leave.   
During the three months that I was living out there we had so many visitors that were amazed that such place was open to the public. The proximity to Boston Light also makes the island a treasure. The idea of selling out for LNG is heartbreaking and infuriating. I know that I am not a MA resident and have no real voice in this issue but I wanted to let you know that even out in the great wide open of Montana I support what you are doing and Great Brewster Island will always hold a special place in my heart.
Sincerely,
Beth Burtch

A scuba diver's impressions of Outer Brewster

"I have been an avid scuba diver for the past 20+ years. In reading many of the articles published I have noticed a few things not mention that I think may be worth considering. One is the lack of mentioning the Scuba Diving Community. On any given day the Outer Brewster Island is circled with dozens of boats that are scuba diving, most of which go unnoticed. What these people have in common is they have all realized that this is the best dive in the harbor. This island offers something for everyone. Of all the people, we who have dove around this island are the one’s who truly appreciate the beauty of this island and what lies beneath its shores."

"In the summer it is the spawning ground for thousands of lobsters that lay eggs to continue the cycle of future generations. We see 5+ pound lobsters loaded with eggs. These are highly illegal lobsters for citizens or lobstermen to take. This delicate breeding ground is going to be allowed to be dredged and pile driven??

"I have dove with and fed Striped bass off of this island. I have seen thousands of Pollock schooling in the unique coves offered by Outer Brewster that will have a ships hull with loud banging pumps running 24x7. My kids caught their first fish in this area – one of the only areas that still are healthy enough to sustain underwater life. We were guaranteed to catch sharks on a certain tides and time. Now we will need to get a security clearance to do so? I am passionate about this area as I have spent hundreds of hours under the surface and on a boat anchored about 50 feet from the island.

"Other issue that I have not heard get much play is the actual pollution from the ships. Having grown up in the Fore River area, gone to Mass Maritime – ships burn hundreds of gallon of fuel per hour. Ships create noise underwater and noise which travels well over the water. Ships spew diesel fumes, which will carry well with a North, East or North East wind right into Hull. That is an absolute issue that will affect the people (and wildlife) facing the island and is a real negative aspect. The ships will be constantly emptying their bilges into some of the cleanest water in the harbor while they are docked. Usually, this water has some toxic elements to it. This is the gift that keeps giving."
--Jay Personini
Hull, MA

To the legislators of Massachusetts:

"I need to tell all of you about a little known gem called the Brewster island group. Outer Brewster island is not one isolated island in the middle of nowhere like the AES corporation would like you to believe. it is part of a group of islands that will all be affected by the proposed LNG storage and processing facility. All of these islands would become a no go zone if this permitted. This area is amazing, All summer I work long weekends then Mondays it's off to the islands. Usually on Mondays it's only the big boy lobstermen and me out there. The islands outside Georges and Lovells etc. are pristine, Outer, Middle, Great, Little, and Calf islands create what is called Calf Bay. Inside the bay the waters are calm and crystal clear, that's why it is a favorite spot for fishing, lobstering, scuba diving,etc, it's a nice safe anchorage spot for anything. On weekends there are lots of pleasure boats as well as recreational fishing boats. I feel like I've been on a vacation whenever I go out there. Generally you need a small boat or a dingy to go ashore but there are several little landing beaches on each of these islands. once you are ashore you can explore til you're hearts content, Critters seem to have kept trails alive so it's pretty easy to get around. There is a lot of history on the islands, it's not unusual to come across an old cannon turret or foundation of some sort. The wildlife there is outstanding, many many bird species I have never seen before, and I live on the beach by Allerton Hill in Hull. I see seals almost every time I go out, I've caught Haddock, Cod, Stripers and Blues this is one of the best fishing spots anywhere because of the rocky bottom. I have a 10 trap recreational lobster license so I usually come home with a half dozen lobsters for Monday night dinner. "The views you encounter are spectacular with the sun shining off the water against the rugged rock cliffs. Historic Boston Light and Graves Light, it's like being in a postcard!! "In my almost 30 years of traveling doing live concert touring I've traveled every remote corner of this country and most of Europe, Scandinavia, Caribbean, etc. I've been to all the Grand Canyons, Rocky mountains, Oceans, and Lakes, This National Park is my favorite!!! Please vote against making this paradise off limits to" We The People " It is a sanctuary for all of us. "
--Dave Wentling
Hull, MA

A fiscal, social and political conservative's view

"What to do with the Boston Harbor Islands, if anything? "
I'm about to go into my closet and pull out a dusty old tie-dye shirt and a pair of moccasins and march down to Beacon Hill. Of course I'm only ½ kidding because if you knew me you would know that I am one of the most fiscal, social and political conservatives you might meet, in Massachusetts. Regardless, we all have a breaking point and for me it is when they start messing with objects of my affection, the Ocean and its somewhat undisturbed surroundings and natural beauty. "You may be familiar with this recent news story; A LNG Company, AES, is proposing to build a storage facility on one of the Boston Harbor Brewster Islands. AES is an out-of-state petroleum conglomerate that probably could care less about the long-term affects of future spills of 10's of millions of gallons of fuel into our much raved about, and rightly so, cleaner harbor. "For recreational and commercial boaters Massachusetts Bay is our playground and Boston Harbor and its Islands our backyard. To some, the hundreds of thousands of tourists coming to Boston, some for their first time, by Cruise Ship, the islands are Boston’s Front Door. I think it’s a unanimously felt that the Boston Harbor Islands are some of the most pristine and undisturbed natural resources in New England. Many of our distinguished legislators also thought so when they supported the designation of these Islands as a National Historic Park. "I hope you have had the privilege of approaching Boston by water and observing the harbor islands and the city skyline grow as you reach them and you are in awe of them as I am each and every time I pass them by. Imagine “Folks on your right is Boston Light, the oldest continually operated lighthouse in the United States and also on the right ....” "If you would like to learn more about these islands then pick up one of the many books written by the famous local and American classic author “Edward Rowe Snow”. "As Americans, for obvious reasons, we should all be and I believe we are much more concerned now with terrorist threats and with our overall safety. But, I am personally insulted when business and government attempt to use this fear to force another unwanted occurrence down our throats. "The mission of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of Costal Zone Management “is to balance the impact of human activities with the protection of coastal and marine resources through planning, public involvement, education, research, and sound resource management.". Within their Web Site they list the following statistics:
"One Site lists:
DID YOU KNOW?
Current sources of energy for electric power generation in New England are as follows: NUCLEAR 24%; COAL 13%; OIL 20% HYDROELECTRIC 6% NATURAL GAS 16% SOLAR/WIND 5%.
"Another lists:
Distrigas Terminal on the Mystic (in Everett where the much feared LNG tankers unload). Distrigas supplies about 15 percent of the natural gas used in the Boston-area market.

"From the above I deduct that a very small percentage of the LNG fuel used in Boston and New England arrives by LNG Tankers via Boston Harbor. 15% of 16% isn't that 0.42% overall? Is this a case of the tale wagging the dog? Or big business and lobbyists wagging our legislature? Should we disturb the natural beauty of the Boston Harbor Islands for 0.42% of the LNG fuel used to produce electricity in New England? What is going on here? Is the King wearing any clothes?

"Another CZM site mentions other LNG companies filing permits to lay LNG pipeline 10 feet under the seabed bringing LNG fuel from Canada to Beverly & Salem Mass. and another:

"Excelerate Energy L.L.C.,
“The terminal includes facilities for LNG tankers to connect and offload natural gas. The proposed terminal site is located approximately 12 miles from shore, outside of state waters but adjacent to the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. A pipeline would carry the gas into state waters, through the South Essex Ocean Sanctuary, and connect to the recently completed Hubline gas pipeline, which would then supply gas to onshore distribution facilities.”

"Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is one of the richest feeding grounds for whales in the north Atlantic. This is one of the most frequented destinations for whale watching vessels in New England. Imagine the devastation from storms like the October 1991 No-Name Storm or the Blizzard of 1978 or the 1938 Hurricane? They will occur again, in time. The environmental affects will be similar to those caused by the damaged oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico resulting from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

"Is this proposal of AES to build a LNG storage facility on Brewster Island a knee jerk reaction to beat its (offshore) competition at the expense of New Englanders and Mother Nature?

"There is no doubt that a LNG storage facility located on any of the harbor islands would be a tremendous eye sore and a biblical political environmental blunder. Let’s see which politicians would like the facility named after them? I personally am not in favor of altering the harbor islands so drastically. Though, if they cannot escape the wrath of man, then I suggest these islands be developed with an award winning architectural arrangement of nature blending buildings and facilities. If done right, I could imagine the development of; a resort hotel and convention center; a casino; a Cruise Ship terminal; a marine sanctuary; a marine biology or maritime facility or college; a travel destination for recreational coastal cruising boaters; retail shops; restaurants; seaside condos and documinniums etc.

"How about a few wind Mill farms on the Islands? As a naturist I do not find Wind Mill Farms offensive, especially when considering their alternatives, the burning of fossil fuels. Boston is one of the windiest cities in the US, much more so than Chicago, coined the Windy City for its politicians not the weather.

"As Massachusetts residents we know that it’s only a matter of time before a Casino bill is passed. And then who wants or gets them? A one-and-only-one Boston Harbor Island Luxury Resort Casino could benefit the harbor and the whole metropolitan area not just another petroleum conglomerate."
--Bill Scanlon
Chelsea, MA