8/21/1997 CONSERVATION COMMISSION Minutes

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MLASHPEE CONSERVATION COMMISSION Minutes of 21 August 1997 C nunissi ne s present: John Fitzsimmons, Elliot Rosenberg, Marry esosiers, Ralph Shaw. THE E CORDED TAPE IS NOT PAR'S OF THE MEETING, IT IS FOR TRANSCRIPTION ONLY. The Chairman called the meeting to order at 6:55 p.m. 6:55 PUBLIC COMMENT T PERIOD: Deirdre Greehsh, vaster Commissioner, came before the Board. She s aid she was here tonight to address comments on the draft E IR on Holland Mills. You began that we did not identify potential impacts on the Pine Barrens Buck Moth and yet in the next sentence it is noted that the weffs power lines should be underground rather than overhead because the Natural Heritage program has long planned a controlled burn in the area. No evidence was given that a municipal well s buck moths, while burning down the pine barrens where they live does not. Fault was found with their offer to focus on spotted turtle investigation on identifying charges In its habitat which is favorable to it. They offered to specifically move any turtles found during construction to another location. Yet, you wondered, "it i interesting to ponder how turtles consider these things. Will they be polled?", You added, 'FIs the DEIR postulating the changes to a well-functiommg ecosystem may be favorable? Any capable ecologist knows that tampering with the natural ecosystem is seldom beneficial. l would question, would burning the pine barrens constitute tampering with an ecosystem? You expressed the criticism that our report didnft adequately discuss water conservation and alternative sources of water supply. That sent the message � to the state that Mashpee does not need the water, that it cans end. another ' greey ears looking for water some place else. if it could be shown that a munici al well destroys the environment then you may have grounds to conclude that Holland N[il].s well site should be abandoned and the current pain and suffering of a moratorium is justified. But, no one has identified valid basis for the fear that Holland Mils will destroy the environment or secifica .y the cedar swamp, 650 feet away. You know that cedar swamps draw water from mall and stere it in peat layers? They do net draw from the groundwater directly. Holland Mills running at capacity 24 hours a day indefinitely would affect the groundwater table underneath the cedar forest by a mere 2". Weigh that against nature's affect on the water table when 180 days without rain could cause a drop of as much as 2 feet. If the cedar swamp .2. has survived a 2 foot drop during dry spells over the past few hundred years,