PDA has not earned public's trust regarding Million Air proposal: Letters

PDA has not earned public's trust regarding Million Air proposal

Feb. 28 − To the Editor:

This is a response to the Letter to the Editor of February 27th entitled "Now for the rest of the story on Pease Fixed Base Operator fight". There are only three problems with this LTE. The "rest" is missing, the story is incomplete, and this is not a fight! The authors of the LTE want Seacoast residents to accept their opinion, but they have ignored questions around negative environmental impacts. They do not even use the word "wetlands".

For months, Seacoast citizens, elected officials and hydrologists have attended hearings and voiced specific concerns about the Million Air‘s choice of a construction site dangerously close to wetlands. These are highly sensitive wetlands that are connected to local waterways and active drinking water wells. The #1 key question - why not move the FBO facilities to another AVAILABLE site at Pease that does not pose the same risks??

Never, in our efforts to prevent the wetlands from being disturbed, and thereby protect drinking water, did we say that a 2nd FBO is not welcome. On the contrary, we have always been and are a pro-competition group who welcome new business for Pease and the Seacoast generally. Contrary to the implications in the letter to which this responds, Seacoast citizens who have voiced their concerns regarding Million Air's choice of construction at a wetlands-sensitive site have NO ECONOMIC INTERESTS, unlike Million Air. We will always confront challenges to our health, our drinking water, the wetlands , wildlife, and the environment.

We remain concerned that the engineering firm, Hoyle Tanner & Associates, hired by Million Air to create the plan is the same firm used by the PDA itself to review such proposals. This is a frustrating and questionable conflict of interest. How can the PDA allow this to happen?

Despite our continued questions, we have received a deafening silence. We get the same message back: trust us, this is a good plan. Worse, some argue that our concerns aren’t worthy of a response because this debate isn’t about the environment!

We should remember that Pease Airport is a “Superfund Site" listed on the EPA's National Priority List (NPL). The EPA describes the NPL list on its website as follows: “The NPL is primarily an information resource that identifies sites that warrant cleanup. It is a list of the worst hazardous waste sites identified by Superfund." The EPA website also provides the following information: "EPA issued an Administrative Order under the Safe Drinking Water Act which requires the design and construction of two treatment systems [at Pease airport] to address groundwater contamination that continues to threaten drinking water supplies while also expediting the investigation and cleanup of these emerging contaminants in the aquifer.”

Wetlands are called "wetlands" for a reason. Water accumulates in wetlands and migrates over and under the surface. Disturbing the soil, changing the elevation contour, or adding buildings or roads to wetlands will cause the water mitigation patterns to change. In the case of Pease airport, there are contaminants in the soil in several areas. If underground or surface water migrates through these contaminated areas, the contaminants will be delivered to the ultimate destination of the migrating water: wells, an aquifer, North Mill Pond, Great Bay, etc. The point here is that past clean-up and mitigation do not eliminate the risk from future actions.

In the LTE of February 27th, former PDA executive director George Bald and Mr. Sedoric voiced support for Million Air, “The reality of the efforts to keep another FBO from operating at PDA has little to do with water quality because the PDA is known for its high standards in protecting the environment.” Actually, it has everything to do with protecting the environment.

The PDA' s concern for water quality and preserving the environment around Pease is certainly not evident from the proceedings in the matter thus far. The PDA has NOT earned our trust. The solution is simple: hire an independent environmental firm for a full review of the environmental issues raised by Million Air’s proposal. Better yet, move the Million Air site to one of the three alternative locations that avoid the environmental risks. We hope the PDA Board will look at this matter objectively and account for the health, safety, and community well-being of those who live and work in and around Pease.

Dania Seiglie, Rye; Dudley Dudley, Durham; Pete Carey and Mary-Jo Monusky, Portsmouth; Jane Man, Greenland

We need to do more to help our family farmers

Feb. 27 − To the Editor:

I shop for the food I cook for my family. Shrinkflation, inflation, and empty shelves are the words of the year in my dictionary. The deadly Covid pandemic threw all of us for a loop, and the effect on our dinner tables is a reminder every time we sit for a meal.

My budget was so impacted I searched for solutions, adding to the surprises of the last three years was the discovery that I could get locally harvested meats, vegetables, and eggs from a local farm through their Community Supported Agriculture program. This was for similar pricing with actual products in stock. Bonus: It’s true, fresh food tastes better.

With other local specialty food makers adding to what they offer, I could reliably fill our larder for the same dollars with a better product. When the price of eggs went crazy the pasture raised eggs their chickens provided were half the price of store bought. The driving factor for the eggstra cost was caused by avian bird flu but exacerbated by a broken supply chain.

Recently I read a letter to the editor from ‘our’ farmers, Amy and Kyle! The exclation point is to express surprise because farming is a before sunup to after sundown life that leaves little time for not farming. Their letter struck a chord because it was about chokepoints hindering them from getting their products to our table.

What they are asking for seems simple but the regulations that need change are not. In New Hampshire we pride ourselves on our history and tradition of self reliance. We have all manner of farms and farmers. We grow our own feed corn and hay. The folks doing it have been for generations and can predict how many acres of hay and feed corn to plant.

Mother nature always has the last word, and changes from year to year are not uncommon. Farmers will do their best to adjust to whatever comes. Adapting to the new normal of local demand however needs help at the federal level. Mea culpa, our family is part of that surge in demand so we are adding our voice to theirs asking for help from our federal delegation.

Self sufficiency is a way of life here in the 603. Having the gumption to do something about regulations that get in the way of that also is a well known trait. When George Calef heard local farmers were struggling to get a fair price for their chickens, he organized transportation to get them to market in Boston, returning with the dollars they needed to continue raising chickens for the table here in NH and beyond.

I have researched the bill they reference (H.B. 3835 “The PRIME Act”) in their LTE. Unfortunately it has little support outside of its sponsor. In my opinion, it is the right time for that to change. Creating and supporting free markets here in the granite state is in our DNA. We can’t be the only state with smallholding farmers who need a stronger voice in Washington. With the Federal Farm Bill up for renewal this year, it is a moment to be seized.

It’s more than the increased cost of the food we eat, it’s the uncertainty that keeps us on our heels. In spite of what some folks think, we can't live on iced coffee and donuts. We are all weary and wary by now of things being blamed on “supply chain issues” and want to put those words behind us. We have a chance to provide better food security for our families in the future if we act locally and act now.

I believe our Washington delegation, if acting in unity and the needs of their constituents can be part of a bipartisan solution to our erratic grocery availability. Since this is a statewide issue our family would like to include Rep. Kuster to Amy and Kyle’s request for leadership on sponsoring this important bill, along with Rep. Pappas and our Senators, Shaheen and Hassen lending support in the senate.

Mike Castaldo

Dover

Jimmy Carter a compassionate man and president

Feb. 24 − To the Editor:

A few years back when in transit at Nairobi, Kenya, Africa on a mercy mission for animals and people, I searched out the cheapest hotel I could find. I asked the hotel employee to show me several rooms to choose from.

After choosing my low-cost room, he held up a key and opened a reserved room where President Jimmy Carter stays when he works helping people in Kenya.

His room was simple, like a neat office with a bed yet there was a feeling of caring & compassion & action there - just like Jimmy Carter!

Suzy Courage Johnson 

Kittery, Maine

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: PDA has not earned public's trust regarding Million Air plan: Letters