National Guard training range at Cape Cod gets key federal approval

BOURNE, Mass. — A proposed machine gun training range at a National Guard base in Massachusetts has received approval from a federal agency.

The National Guard Bureau has determined that the range at Camp Edwards on Joint Base Cape Cod would not significantly affect the region’s environment.

“I have concluded that implementation of the proposed action would not have a significant impact on the quality of the human or natural environment,” Col. Anthony Hammett of the National Guard Bureau wrote to the Massachusetts National Guard on Tuesday.

Neighbors, environmental activists and state and federal lawmakers have raised concerns about how the range would affect wildlife habitat and the region’s sole source aquifer.

“This is further evidence that the Guard has no respect for the seriousness of the concerns raised by the public,” Andrew Gottlieb, executive director of the Association to Preserve Cape Cod, told The Boston Globe.

The National Guard says the range is environmentally safe.

“The Massachusetts National Guard developed this training range to meet the demands of complex military training while embracing our responsibility to care for our common home on Cape Cod,” National Guard Col. Matthew Porter said in a statement to the Cape Cod Times.

The Massachusetts Environmental Management Commission will now review the project.

In Other News

Biden says uncle’s remains never found during WWII due to cannibals

While the claim contradicts the DPAA report about his uncle's fate, Biden's comments on cannibalism in the region during WWII are not far off.

USS Gunston Hall is back home after a four-month deployment

Gunston Hall returned to the states after taking part in NATO's biggest exercise in decades.

Will the Supreme Court’s GI Bill ruling mean more money for vets?

A major veterans education benefits ruling by the Supreme Court this week could have far-reaching effects for millions of students.

Air Guard changes in Alaska could affect national security, rescue ops

Staffing changes in the Alaska Air National Guard may hurt the organization's ability to secure America's western airspace and carry out rescue operations.

A child thought he’d found a rock — it was actually a Marine’s jawbone

A human jawbone discovered in the Arizona desert was recently discovered to belong to a U.S. Marine Corps captain.

Cannon pediatric cancer study finds higher rate of rare brain tumors

Children affiliated with Cannon Air Force Base were diagnosed with a rare brain cancer at a higher rate than kids elsewhere, a new study found.

Internet subsidy used by millions of vets, troops set to expire in May

A federal program that helps troops and veterans pay for home internet access will run out of funding next month without congressional action.

Meet the Marine aviator of the year ― an unmanned aerial vehicle pilot

Maj. Shane Gentry used his real-world experience remotely piloting the MQ-9A in combat missions to train other Marines to fly the aircraft.

Navy continues to struggle in recruiting as other services near goal

The Navy is performing better than it did last year, but is projected to miss its recruiting goal by roughly 6,700 sailors this fiscal year.

‘The flak can’t always miss. Somebody’s gotta’ die’

An excerpt from 'I Will Tell No War Stories' by Howard Mansfield.

Load More