(NOTE: The next meeting on the topic is Wednesday August 27, not Thursday as noted in this letter.)
New Haven, CT – Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) sent a letter to Army Secretary Pete Geren regarding several questions raised during the meeting Tuesday evening (August 19, 2008) about the Army Reserve Center between the United States Army Corps of Engineers, including, Colonel Keith Landry, Commander of the Corps' Louisville District, elected officials and members of the community. In advance of the August 27, 2008 public meeting on the Center, DeLauro requested legal clarification regarding the location parameters outlined in the BRAC language and previous correspondence with the Corps, the definition of suitable, and timing for determining a suitable location; as well as what environmental permits and approvals are necessary to move forward with the project.
"I was encouraged by Colonel Landry's willingness to more directly involve the City and the community in the upcoming site selection process," DeLauro writes in the letter. "At last evening's meeting several questions were once again raised, which I believe need to be fully addressed so that the community is more comfortable moving forward.
"It is absolutely critical that the community be fully involved in this process and I believe that this new approach will provide Middletown's citizens with greater input and help to avoid the community frustration that we have witnessed thus far."
Below is the text of the letter.
August 20, 2008
The Honorable Pete Geren
Secretary
United States Department of the Army
Army Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20310-1600
Dear Secretary Geren,
Thank you once again for taking the time to speak with me on August 1st with regard to the proposed construction of an Armed Forces Reserve Center in Middletown, Connecticut. Last evening, Colonel Keith Landry, Commander of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Louisville District, and several members of his staff attended a meeting at which Middletown's elected officials were able to ask several questions and clarify the process by which a site for this facility will be chosen. I was encouraged by Colonel Landry's willingness to more directly involve the City and the community in the upcoming site selection process.
As we discussed, Governor Rell determined that the 205th Engineer Company of the Connecticut National Guard will not be consolidated into this facility, and I understand that as a result of that decision new specifications for the project will be forthcoming shortly. It is also my understanding that because of this reduction it is probable that a significantly smaller acreage size will be required for the facility. This would likely open up several additional properties for consideration and, as such, Colonel Landry has stated that a new site selection process will begin as soon as the updated specifications are ready. The City of Middletown has always expressed interest in siting the Armed Services Reserve Center in Middletown. However, the site selected needs to not only meet the needs of the Army's specifications, but must also provide an economic benefit to the City while maintaining the quality of life of its residents.
At last evening's meeting several questions were once again raised, which I believe need to be fully addressed so that the community is more comfortable moving forward. As you may be aware, the team from Louisville will be in Middletown again next Thursday, August 27 for a meeting in which the public will be able to pose questions. I believe it would be beneficial to all of those involved if some of these issues were addressed prior to that meeting.
First, the BRAC language states that the consolidation and building of a Reserve Center in Middletown shall take place "if the Army is able to acquire land suitable for the construction of the facilities." In November 2006, Mayor Giuliano of Middletown received a letter (enclosed) from the Real Estate Division of the New England District of the Corps which states that "We are inquiring as to the availability of approximately 16-25 acres of land in the town of Middletown or within 20 driving miles of the town limits that could be used for an Armed Forces Reserve Center." In recent meetings, representatives of the Corps have explained that their mission states that the Reserve Center must be built within the city limits of Middletown. As I am sure you can understand, these varying positions have caused great confusion and raised the question as to whether or not this facility must be located in Middletown.
I am therefore requesting that you provide me with a legal clarification as to whether this Reserve Center is required to be located within the city limits of Middletown and, if so, a detailed explanation of how the Department of the Army arrived at that determination. Furthermore, your Department's most recent letter to me of August 4 states that, if a suitable site cannot be identified in a timely manner, "this significant construction project will be cancelled and the Reserve and Guard soldiers will remain at existing locations." Yet, it is my understanding the Army Corps must find a way to implement the BRAC recommendations. Can you please clarify what your legal interpretation of the law is, what the Army's definition of a suitable site is, and what steps you may take if a suitable site is not found in Middletown?
A second issue that I believe needs to be addressed is with regard to the permits and approvals which the Corps may need to seek prior to proceeding with the construction of this facility. It is my understanding that, under current federal law, the Corps would be required to seek both a Section 401 permit, issued by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, as well as approval from the local Inland/Wetlands Commission. Yet, during this process, there has been some debate as to whether or not the Corps would need to seek such approvals. I would ask that you confirm whether these approvals, under current federal statutes, are required.
As stated above, I am very encouraged by the direction in which Colonel Landry has proposed to move forward with the site selection process. It is absolutely critical that the community be fully involved in this process and I believe that this new approach will provide Middletown's citizens with greater input and help to avoid the community frustration that we have witnessed thus far. Again, I would ask that every effort be made to address these issues prior to the public meeting scheduled for Thursday, August 27th, as I believe it would be of great benefit to all of those involved if these questions were resolved before moving forward.
Again, thank you for taking the time to speak with me earlier this month. Please do not hesitate to contact me or my staff assistants, Allison Dodge at (203) 562-3718 or Daniel Zeitlin at (202) 225-3661 if we can provide you with any additional information. I appreciate your time and prompt consideration of this matter.
Sincerely,
ROSA L. DeLAURO
Member of Congress
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www.house.gov/delauro
2 comments:
Many thanks to her. She may have come late to this issue, but the letter and press release is right on target. And she even was able to say what had to be said without ridicule.
I am glad that Rosa DeLauro was encouraged at the meeting by Colonel Landry’s assurances of greater City and community involvement in the renewed site selection process. I hope “renewed” does not mean “waste of time” on “foregone conclusion”.
I was discouraged from the beginning, because like just about everybody else, I did not like being excluded , this time from the pre-meeting meeting, that was so necessary that it kept the meeting from beginning on time! This set a bad tone despite apologies from the delayers. If the City and the Army have embarked on an exciting collaboration that is going to be so good for us that ironing it out must delay a meeting with us, why the heck did they have to talk so privately? If it is so blanking good, tell us the great plan right out loud!
Colonel Landry is new to his current mission so he can be excused for not knowing much about it. I hope he comes up to speed rapidly because most of the Middletown community can quote chapter and verse of the BRAC site- selection process just as well. He could not answer any of the important questions and provided no new information.
The last time Secretary of the Army Pete Geren wrote to Rosa DeLauro he recited the same old interpretation of BRAC and said in no uncertain terms that she would be expected to obtain the City and State’s cooperation to make this deal happen and happen on time. A bit of a threat was implied, with unstated consequences for Congresswoman DeLauro.
Now, we await the Secretary of the Army’s next missive, the one with the answers to all the tough questions. I hope Diane McCartin and Colonel Landry are armed and ready with answers for the next meeting on August 27. Otherwise why bother making the journey? And, please, no more exclusive pre-meeting meetings.
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