'Will we become helicopter hub for state?'
Yearlong medevac debate shows no signs of waning.

2/1/06

I would like to thank the Bedminster Environmental Commission for it decision Monday night, Jan. 23, to recommend further investigation into the expansion of the Somerset Airport Medevac facility. While they decided that a formal Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project was not required, I do applaud their decision to highlight some glaring questions that have been raised by the potential airport development.

EDITOR:

It seems that many of the discussions held before the Bedminster planning and environmental committees seem to skirt the central issue about the Medevac/State Police use of the Somerset Airport, which is: Are we setting ourselves up to become a “helicopter hub” for Medevac, for the State Police, for Homeland Security?

As a resident of Bedminster, this is naturally a huge concern, and from what we have learned from the flight logs, a valid one. If a small “temporary trailer” can grow into a new septic system/offices/sleeping quarters right under our noses, then why shouldn’t we be concerned? Can’t we all just say it out loud: This airport development has the potential to grow and grow and grow.

I also think that the environmental concerns that were addressed by the airport’s lawyer and environmental expert on Monday night completely missed the mark. While I am always concerned about wildlife, wetlands and water issues, the environmental issue that airport planners neglected to address is noise. We are talking about an airport here, and no one brought up the environmental impact of helicopter noise?

How will helicopters taking off and landing at all hours of the day and night impact surrounding bird nesting areas, equestrian facilities, schools, farm animals, etc? And isn’t this part of the reason why medical/police helicopters shouldn’t be based in rural areas?

The state of New Jersey has just voted to approve Bill 4584, which will change motorists millions of dollars per year when they register their car to expand the State Police helicopter program. With that kind of funding, how can we not expect police helicopter presence to grow at Somerset Airport? If we build it, they will come.

Finally, I would like to thank those people who have brought this situation to my attention and to the attention of the community at large. It takes a lot of guts these days to bring issues to light without being penalized politically or on the op-ed page.

It’s our job as residents to monitor the decisions that our elected officials make for us and challenge them if they compromise the rural standards that we moved here for in the first place.

PEGGY BUNKER
Bedminster Township