CISCO (formerly Towermarc property). From the beginning in 1989, our efforts were instrumental in establishing a buffer between this office park and Harvard and we have had some success in working for mitigating effects of the added traffic upon Harvard. Now that CISCO is the owner of the property, we intend to monitor its development to assure Harvard's interests are not ignored.
Buffer Zone at Devens. A buffer zone needs to be created to protect the residential property on the other side of Cold Spring Brook from warehousing proposed on Barnum Road. With the departure of the National Guard use of a large building there, additional space is open now for truck storage. This needs to be resolved.
Guilford Rail disturbs neighbors by frequent periods when the diesel locomotives idle for long periods producing noise and fumes. The December tank leak caused evacuation, fortunately no one was injured. The Guilford Auto Unloading facility has had an environmental review regarding the three towns' drinking water. The January 2001 study concludes that there is no threat to public water supplies in Harvard and Littleton, but stormwater from the site could potentially impact Ayer public water supply, which would require a stormwater management program.
Cleanup of Devens Land. Despite the efforts of many people, the Army has finally decided to place the consolidated landfill on Patton Road in Harvard near the Federal Prison. It will combine substances from many other sites into this one site. CPRH continues to participate in the monthly meetings of the Army Restoration Advisory Board that is responsible for the cleanup. People of Ayer Concerned About the Environment (PACE) also attend with the consultant they have hired to interpret the data and advise them on further action. Through this consultant, intelligent questions can be posed to the Army and the answers analyzed. CPRH has commented on the Proposed Plan for AOC 57 on Barnum Road, protesting the Army's choice of a lower level of cleanup than would be required of private landowners. MASSDevelopment has insisted that the Army remove soil damaged by pesticides to prevent risk to future residents. The RAB Board meetings are open to the public at the Commanders Building, 31 Quebec Street, Devens, second Thursday evenings at 7PM.
As in all eleven years of CPRH's existence, the community's response to our work played a crucial role in our successes. We take pride in our leadership of our community's opposition to the construction of an airport at Fort Devens. This was a major accomplishment and we look forward to working on other issues that similarly affect the community in the future. We need volunteers from our membership base to monitor issues, write letters, collect signatures, telephone, and attend meetings or any number of other tasks. Members are always welcome at monthly board meetings. For further information, please call Ken Miller, (978) 456-3146.