PUBLIC
HEARING FOR BU BOATHOUSE PROPOSAL ON ESPLANADE
Advocates
urge state to require full environmental review for lease of Boston
parkland
June 7, 2001, Newton, MA …Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA), working in
partnership with other environmental and neighborhood groups, will press
public officials to require Boston University (BU) to prepare a full
report on the potential environmental impacts of its proposed new
boathouse on the Charles River Esplanade.
The public will have an opportunity to ask questions and comment
on BU’s proposal at a public meeting sponsored by the state’s
Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA) on June 20th
at 6:30 PM at Tsai Performance Center, Boston University.
“Our goal in seeking an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is to ensure
that the public is fully involved before BU is allowed to appropriate
prime parkland for its own uses,” said Margaret Van Deusen, CRWA’s
deputy director. “A draft
EIR would provide an opportunity for the city residents, agencies, and
officials to comment on BU’s plans, and require the university to
address those concerns before submitting a final EIR. This process
cannot be short-circuited if we are to protect public uses of one of the
most beautiful and heavily-used areas of the Esplanade.” Under public pressure, BU recently submitted an
Environmental Notification Form (ENF) to EOEA. CRWA and others maintain
that the limited analysis in the ENF falls far short of regulatory
requirements under the Massachusetts Environmental Protection Act. Advocates seek a thorough evaluation of environmental
impacts, including a study of alternative locations, as well as
opportunities for public comment, as required by law. Outside
of the regulatory process, BU is working to lock in its preferred site
in the state legislature. Bill
No.1613 would grant the university a 20-year lease on 1.45 acres of the
Charles River Esplanade between the BU and Mass. Ave. Bridges. Although hearings on the bill were held April 23rd,
the bill has not yet been reported out of the Joint Committee on
Administration. “We
urge anyone who is interested in a fair and open process for determining
how public parklands are used to come to the June 20th
meeting, or provide written comments to the Secretary of Environmental
Affairs by June 22nd,” Ms. Van Deusen added.
A free copy of the ENF can be obtained from Epsilon Associates by
emailing ldumond@epsilonassociates.com with your name and address. Working
with CRWA on this issue are: State Rep. Paul Demakis, Alliance of Boston
Neighborhoods, Bay State Road Civic Association, Beacon Hill Civic
Association, Charles River Conservancy, Conservation Law Foundation,
Environmental League of Massachusetts, Esplanade Association, Greenspace
Alliance, Massachusetts Audubon Society, and Neighborhood Association of
Back Bay. For more
information, visit CRWA’s website at www.charlesriver.org. Date:
June 20th, 2001 |